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History of Linn County Iowa 




/;.£ L d- /g>^ -^ 



History 



of 



Linn County Iowa 



From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time 



BY 

LUTHER A. BREWER 

AND " 

BARTHINIUS L. WICK 

Members Hitlorical Society of Linn County, Iowa 




CEDAR RAPIDS 

The Torch Press 

1911 






Copyright 1011 by 
Luther A. Brewer 



THE TORCH PRESS 

CEDAR RAPIDS 

IOWA 



CCI.A'^SOTSO 



TO THE MEMORY OF OUR 
HONORED PIONEERS 



INTRODUCTION 

The history of Linn county is covered by the events of only a few 
years, if compared with the history^ of communities east of the Missis- 
sippi. The space of one life-time embraces all that has happened here 
since the first white man looked upon our goodly heritage. True, that 
life has been prolonged beyond the scriptural three score and ten years. 
Robert Ellis, who came to this community more than seventy years ago, 
and who was one of the very early settlers, yet lives in a hale and vigor- 
ous age on land he "claimed" at that time. 

But if the history of the county does not cover many years, it yet is a 
history crowded with happenings of interest, some of the incidents being- 
more or less stirring. 

History is defined as a record of the past. It does not concern itself 
with the present. It has been the puri)ose of the editors of this volume 
to treat somewhat at length of the early days in the county. Those 
conversant with events occurring prior to the Civil war are rapidly 
moving on, and it is high time that their recollections of beginnings 
here were gathered and put in permanent form. 

Tliis has been attempted — how imperfectly done no one realizes 
more keenly than we realize it. But like little Marj^ "Wood of the story, 
we have done the best we could in the few months given us to prepare 
the pages which follow. We have done some things which need not 
be done again by any one who follows us. We have made definite some 
things in our histoiy as a county that heretofore have been matters of 
uncertainty. It is felt that the present volume will make an excellent 
starting point for some future chronicler. 

The task of the historian has been an arduous one — far more ardu- 
ous than can be imagined by any save those who have done similar 
work. Withal the task has been one of pleasure and of inspiration. 
The pursuit of knowledge in this instance has really been a delight. 

We have been taught many things by our work that add to the sum 
of the pleasures of living in a day crowded with all the conveniences of 
the twentieth century. Our respect for the courageous pioneer men and 
the equally courageous and self-sacrificing ]iioneev women of our county 
has been placed high. Nobly did they sufi'er, enduring privations now 
undreamed of, and never comjilaining that theirs was a hard lot. We 
stand with uncovered heads and with a reverent feeling in their presence. 

It is not possible to make due acknowledgments to all those who aided 
in gathering the material in this volume. Many who came here in the 
early years of the county have been consulted, and always with profit. 
The drudgery of the work of making this book has been greatly lessened 



viii HISTOKY OF LINN COUNTY 

by their courtesy and their lielp. We thank them all. Some of them 
have been credited with their assistance in the narrative itself. In 
addition to the names mentioned in the text we desire to give thanks 
for aid and counsel to N. E. Brown, perhaps the best posted man in 
Cedar Rapids on the early histoiy of the city; to Ed. M. Scott, for most 
valuable aid in the preparation of the chapter on banks and banking; 
to Capt. J. 0. Stewart and Col. W. G. Dows for appreciated assistance 
in the writing of the chapter on our military history; to Carle D. Brown, 
of the Coumiercial Art Press, who gathered most of the illustrations for 
the volume; to W. F. Stahl, for aid in giving the history of the United 
Brethren church in the couut3^ Robert Ellis, Mrs. Susan Mekeel, Mrs. 
Susan Shields, Mrs. Elizabeth Ilrdlicka, Augustus Abbe, J. H. Preston, 
C. G. Greene, J. S. Ely, Wm. Smyth, C. F. Butler, L. W. Mansfield, and 
many others have assisted in gathering much valuable material con- 
cerning the lives of the pioneers. 

Much that has been gathered concerning times far removed from the 
present, is from "hearsay," hence it has been difficult to be certain as 
to the correct facts in some instances. Inaccuracies may be found, but 
these are due to unavoidable omissions, largely on the part of those 
who have related these happenings and not from any sense of bias or 
])rejudice. 

All prior county histories have been consulted as well as the early 
state gazetteers, Andreas' Atlas, Carroll's History, History of Crescent 
Lodge, History of the Bench and Bar of Iowa, History of the Courts and 
Legal Profession, Proceedings of the Linn County Historical Society; 
and the files of the newspapers published in the county in an early day. 
It is needless to add that the early city directories have been largely 
used with reference to the business men of Cedar Rapids in the early 
days. 

References to persons have been confined to mere statements of facts 
and have been free from undue flattery on the one hand and from any- 
thing derogatory on the other. The members of the legal and medical 
professions have been referred to at some length for the reason that 
the lawj^ers and doctors were important factors in pioneer days, both 
in the organization of the county and in the i)romotion of the various 
enterprises in our towns. 

Trusting that this history may be of some value in preserving ma- 
terial which ere long would pass beyond reach of preservation, this 
work is respectfully dedicated to the early pioneers of the county, whose 
lives and careers the authors have attempted to describe in the following- 
pages. 

LuTHEB A. Brewer 
Baethiniits L. Wick 



CONTENTS 



Eaileoad in County 



Chapter I The Birth of Iowa . 

Chapter II The First Inhabitants 

Chai'ter III Iowa Historically 

Chapter lY Iowa and Her People 

Chapter V The Geology op Linn County 

Chapter \'I Beginnings in Linn County 

Chapter VII William Abbe, First Settler 

Chapter VIII County Seat Contests — First 

Ch.\pteh IX The Old Settlers' Association 

Chapter X Postoffices and Politics . 

Chapter XI The Physicians of the County 

Chapter XII The Material Growth of the County . 

Chapter XIII Rural Life .... 

Chaptre XIV A Hero of the Can.\dian Rebellion . 

Chapter XV The Newspapers of the County 

Chapter XVJ The Bohemian Element in the County 

Chapter XVIT The Early Marriage Record . 

Chapter XVIII Historic Roads and Other Monuments 

Chapter XIX Some of the Old Settlers 

Chapter XX Eably Linn County Lawyers and Courts 

Chapter XXI Chatty Mention of Bench and B.4E . 

Chapter XXII The Schools of the County . 
^H.\PTER XXIII Historical Sketch of Cornell College 
' Chapter XXH' History of Coe College 

Chapter XXV The Old Blair Building 

Chapter XX^T Some of the Old Cemeteries 

Chapter XXVII Early Experiences in Stage and Express 

Chapter XX^TII Linx County Libraries 

Chapter XXIX Wages and Prices in County from 1846 to 1856 
^Chapter XXX Some of the First Things in Cedar Rapids and 
/^ Linn County ..... 

Chapter XXXI Society in the Early Days . 

Chapter XXXTI Southern Influence 

Chapter XXX ITT Some Township History . 

Chapter XXXI\' Lisbon and the United Brethren Church 

Chapter XXXV County and District Politics . 

Chapter XXXVT Cedar Rapids ..... 

Chapter XXXVII Beginnings of Churches and Fr.\ternities 
IN Cedar Rapids . . 

Chapter XXXVIII Catholicism in Linn County 

Chapter XXXIX Linn County Statistics 



1 

3 

13 

17 

24 

31 

51 

57 

66 

82 

86 

92 

98 

101 

106 

121 

127 

142 

145 

169 

177 

194 

201 

215 

232 

242 

244 

248 

253 

256 
261 
267 
27U 
291 
298 
307 

395 
■401 
416 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



Chapter XL The Bbidges across the Cedar at Cedar E.u'ros and 

Early Steajiboating on the Cedar River . 420 

Chapter XLI Banks and Banking in Linn County . . 435 

Chapter XLII Roster of County Officers . . . 451 

Chapter XLIII History of Marion, the County Seat . 460 

Chapter XLIV Linn County in War .... 470 

Chapter XLV Odds and Ends of History and Reminiscence . 479 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Luther A. Brewer ..... F; 

B. L. Wick 
Lewis Field Linn 

A Scene on the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids in the Fiftie 
Residence of Isaac Carroll in 1839 
An Early Land Deed 
Shepherd's Ta\^rn 
Geological Illustrations 
The Astor House 

Double Log Cabin built by William Abbe 
First Presbyterian Chxtrch in Cedar Rapids in 1851 
Residence of Williston Jones 
Daniel Seward Hahn . 
Linn County Scenes 
Going Shopping . 
Indian Scenes 

Former Pastors United Brethren Church, Lisbon 
Samuel W. Durham 

Some Early Members United Brethren Church, Lisbon 
Present Day Scene 
An Old Land Receipt 
Steamboat on Cedar, 1887 
Dr. John F. Ely 
John A. Kearns 
A. J. Reid . 

C. S. Howard 
William Stick 

The Vardy House, Cedar Rapids 
Franklin Block and Residence of P. W. Eari.e 
The Listebarger C.\bin, Cedar Rapids 
Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Quass 
^fR. AND Mrs. William Giddings 
Mr. and Mrs. Tsa.\c Millburn 
Mr. and Mr,s. W. a. Lacock 
J. P. Glass 
F. a. Helbig 
Prof. H. H. Freer 
Rev. Geo. B. Bowman 
Joseph ^Fekota . 
W. F. Severa 
Dr. J. S. Love 



U 



y 



ontispiecc 
4 
8^ 
12^ 
12 
16 "^ 
20' 
24' 
28'^ 
32 
36 
36 
40^ 
44 
48 
48 ,. 
52" 
56 
60^ 
64 
64 
64 
68 
72 
72 
72 
72 
76 
76 
76 
80 
80 
80 
80 
80 
80 
84- 
84 
84 
84 
88^ 



Xll 



HISTOBY OF LINN COUNTY 



J. H. VoaMEK 

Fk. T. J. Sullivan 

Db. E. L. Mansfield 

Hon. James Uee . 

Judge J. H. Eothrock 

J. J. Daniels 

L. J. Palda 

Bridge at the Palisades 

The Palisades of the Cedar 

Barney McShane Cabin . 

Cabin in ' ' Cracker Settlement ' ' 

United Brethren Church, Lisbon 

Main Street, Mount Vernon . 

Alexander Laurance 

Old M. E. Church, Mount Vernon 

Street Scene in Lisbon . 

School at Fairfax 

Methodist Chuech at Fairfax . 

The Ch.\pel, Cornell College . 

Carnegie Library, Mount ^'ernon 

United Presbyterian Church at Scotch Grove 

Wood-Burning Engine, 1879 

Main Building, Cornell College 

South-Hall, Cornell College . 

Henry Bruce House, Sprincat^lle 

First Springville Band . 

The "Old Sem" Cornell College 

Bowman Hall, Cornell College 

Butler Park at Springville 

Business District at Springville 

Picnic at Home of Geo. L. Durno, Springville, in 1884 

Illinois Central Depot, Central City 

Methodist Church, Center Point 

South Main Street, Troy Mills 

M. E. Church, Troy Mills 

Mill at Prairieburg 

At Old Settlers' Eeunion, Marion 

A Park Scene in Marion 

Court House, Marion 

Wapsie Eiver and Mill at Central City 

Isaac Butler .... 

Public School at Springville . 

Methodist Church, Springville 

Home of J. F. Butler, Spring\tlle 

Methodist Church at Palo 

Scene at Springville 



92 

92 

92 

96 

96 

96 

96 
101- 
101 
104 
104 
108' 
108 
112 
116'' 
116 
120 
120 
124' 
124 
128 
128 
132 
132 
136 
136 
140 
140 
144 '' 
144 
148 -"■ 
148 
152 
152 
156 
156 
160 
]60 
164 
164 
168 
172 
176 
176 
180 
180 



J 



J 



J 



J 



^/ 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



xiu 



Eably View of Spkingville 

First Store in Springvih^e 

Lutheran Church, Lisbon 

Main Street, Lisbon 

Presbyterian Church at Springville 

The Butler Farm at Springville 

Cornell College in 1865 

A Street Scene in Marion 

The Daniels Hotel, Marion 

Rev. Samuel M. Fellows, A. j\L 

Commercial Hotel, Center Point 

BRinr.E OVER the Cedar at Center Point 

W. F. King, LL. D. . . . 

Main Street from the North, F.urfax 

Main Street looking West, Central City 

An Old Grave at Springville . 

Rev. J. B. Albrook, D. D. 

Prof. Harriette J. Cook 

Mrs. Margaret McKell King 

Baptlst Church, CentR/VL City . 

Old Barn at Centr.\l City 

James E. Harlan, LL. D. 

Congreg.\tion.\l Church, Central City 

Christian Church, Central City 

Scene at Troy ^Mills 

Mill and Dam at Coggon 

High School, Central City 

Bridge Over Wapsie at Central City 

T. S. P.4RVIN 

West Rowley Street, Walker . 

Main Street, Prairieburg 

Main Street, Springville 

Quaker Meeting House at Whittier 

Whittier .... 

Main Street. Central City, from the South 

General Store at Covington 

Upper Wagon Bridge, Central, City 

Henderson Bridge, Central City 

Baptist Church, Prairieburg . 

Milwaukee Bridge, Covington . 

The "Old School," Coggon 

South Side Main Street, Coggon 

Scene on the Cedar at Cedar Rapids 

Birdseye View Looking East, Cedar Rapids 

Cedar River Dam, Cedar Rapids 

Quaker Oats Plant, Cedar Rapids 



184 

184 

188 

188 

192^ 

192 

200- 

204 

204 

208' 

212 ' 

212 

21(i 

220 

220 

224^ 

224 

224 

224 

228' 

228 

232 

23() 

236 

240 

240 

244 

244 

248 

253^ 

253 

256' 

256 

256 

261' 

261 

264 

2()4 

268 

268 

272 

272 

276 

276 

276 

280 



XIV 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



Steeet Eailway Station at Bevee Pabk, Cedae Rapids 

View of Cedar Rapids from the Island 

Railroad Yards at Cedar Rapids 

Father Flyxn, Cedar Rapids 

Public and Commercial Buildings in Cedae Rapids, 1910 

BiRDSEYE View of Cedae Rapids in 1868 

Father Sxt^dlik, Cedar Rapids . 

Biedseye View of Ced.ar Rapids in 1889 

Fedeeal Building, Cedar Rapids 

Auditorium, Cedae R.apids 

Part of Zoo in Bevee Park, Cedar Rapids 

A Scene in Bevee Park, Cedar Rapids 

Sixteenth A\t;nue Bridge, Cedar Rapids 

First Street, corner Second Avenue, in 1869 

First U. B. Church West of Mississippi River 

CoE College Buildings . 

Sinclair Packing Plant, Cedae Rapids 

Black Hawk .... 

A Winnebago Indian 

The Slave Dance of the Sac and Fox . 

Cedar Rapids Country^ Club House 

George Greene Sqi^are . 

Riverside Park, Cedar Rapids 

Cedar Rapids in 1856 

The Old Blair Building 

Montrose Hotel, Cedar Rapids 

S. C. Bever 

Thomas Gainer 

E. D. Waln 

Rev. Elias Skinner 

J. M. May . 

Capt. a. Bowman . 

E. M. Cbow 

Father Lowry 

St. Wenceslauh Church, Cedar Rapids 

St. Wenceslaus School, Cedar Rapids 

The Late Very Reverend Dean Gunn 

Quaker 0.\ts Train 

Scene on Cedar River 

St. Patrick's Church, Cedar Rapids 

Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids . 

Judge N. M. Hubbard 

Views along the Cedar River . 

Park Views in Cedar Rapids 

In and Around Mt. Vernon 

R. D. Stephens .... 



280 

288" 

288 

296 

300 

304 

307V 

312 , 

320 

320 

328 

328 . 

336^ 

336 

344^ 

352" 

360 

366 

366 

366 

368^ 

368 

368 

369'' 

371 

376 

384^ 

384 

384 

384 

392 

392 

392 

401^ 



/ 



404 

404 

408^ 

412 

412 

412 

416 

422 

424 

432" 

436" 

440^ 



./ 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



XV 



Addison Daniels . 
J. B. Young 
I. M. Preston 
S. S. Johnson 
Thos. J. McKean 

N. "W. ISBELL 

^ILLIAM Greene . 
0. S. Bowling 
Independent Hose Company, Cedar Eapids, 1875 
City Residences, Cedar Rapids . 
View of Marion, 1868 
James E. Bromwell. Sr. 
T. M. Sinclair . 
J. 0. Stewart 
Col. T. Z. Cook . 
Some Early Currency 
Street Views in Cedar Rapids, in 1910 



440 

440 

440 

444^ 

448-^ 

448 

448 

448 

452^ 

456 '' 

460;" 

464 

468^ 

468 

472 

476 

480 " 



MAPS 

Linn County .... 
Showing Black Hawk Purchase 
Showing Des Moines County Subdivided 
After the Sac and Fox Cessions of 1837 
Late Division of Black Hawk Purchase 
Showing the two Cessions .\s at Present Divided 



1 

184' 

185 

190 

191 

197 




MAP OP' LINN COUNTY 



CHAPTER I 

Tlw Birth of Iowa 

Iowa is kiKiwii as a prairie state. Prairie is a French word and signifies 
meadow. It was the name first applied to the great treeless plains of North 
Ameriea by the French missionaries who were the first white men to explore these 
regions. 

As yet scientists have not been at)le to explain the origin of the prairies. 
Different theories have been advanced, hut the interesting pro])lein is without 
satisfactory and conchisive solution. 

Agassiz, the scientist, niaintainetl tli.it Ameriea is not the "new world." 
"Hers was the first dry land lifted out of tlu; waters," he wrote; "hers the first 
shores wa.shed by the ocean that enveloped all the earth besides ; and while Europe 
was represented only by islands rising here and there above the sea. America 
already stretched one unbroken line of land from Nova Scotia to the far West." 

Iowa, also, was born, had a beginning sometime. Just how many years ago 
this interesting event took place it is ditficult to approximate. Prof. Samuel 
Calvin, state geologist, .says that "geological records, untampered with, and luiini- 
peachalile. declare that for uneoinited years Iowa, together with the great valley 
of the Mi.ssissippi, lay beneath the level of the sea. So far as it was inhabited 
at all, marine forms of animals and plants were its only occupants." 

The soils of the state were produced by the action of the ice in what is known 
as the glacial piM-ind. We are told how liy Professor Calvin : 

"Glaciers ami glacial action have c(mtributed in a very large degree to the 
making of our magnificent St.!ite. What Iowa would have been had it never suf- 
fered from the etfeets of the ponderous ice sheets that suecessivel.v overflowed its 
surface, is illustrated, but not perfectly, in the driftless area. Here we have an 
area that was not invaded by glaciers. Allamakee, parts of Jackson, Dubucpie, 
Clayton, Fayette, and Winneshiek counties lielong t^> the driftless area. During 
the last two decades deep wells have been bored through the loose surface deposit, 
and down into the underlying rocks. The record of these wells shows that the 
rock surface is very uneven. Before the glacial drift which now mantles nearly 
the whole of Iowa wa.s deposited, the surface had been carved into an intricate 
system of hills and valleys. There were narrow gorges hundreds of feet in depth, 
and there were rugged, rocky cliffs, and isolated buttes corresponding in height 
with the depth of the valleys. 

"To a person passing from the drift-covered to the driftless part of the state, 
the topography presents a series of surprises. The principal drainage streams 
flow in valleys that measure, from the summits of the divides, six hundred or 
more in depth. The Oneota, or Upper Iowa River, in Allamakee county, for 
example, flows between picturesque cliffs that rise almost vertically from three 
to four hundred feet, while from the summit of the cliffs the land ri.ses gradually 
to the crest of the divide, three, four or five miles back from the stream. Tribu- 
tary streams cut the lateral slo])es and canyim walls at intervals. These again 
have tributaries of the second order. In such a region a quarter section of level 
land would be a curiosity. This is a fair sam])lc of what Iowa would have been 
had it not been planed down by the leveling effects of the glaciers. Soils of uni- 
form excellence would have been impossilile in a non-glacial Iowa. The soils of 
Iowa have a value ecjual to all of the silver and gold mines of the world combined. 



2 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"And for this rich heritage of soils we are indebted to great rivers of ice 
that overflowed Iowa from the north and northwest. The glaciers in their long 
journey ground up the rocks over which they moved and mingled the fresh rock 
flour from granites of British America and northern Minnesota with pulverized 
limestones and shales of more southern regions, and used the.se rich materials in 
covering up the bald rocks and leveling the iri-egular surface of preglacial Iowa. 
The materials are in places hundreds of feet in depth. They are not oxidized 
or leached, but retain the carbonates and other soluble constituents that contrib- 
ute so largely to the growth of plants. The physical condition of the materials 
is ideal, rendering the soil porous, facilitating the distribution of moisture, and 
offering unmatched opportunities for the employment of improved machinery 
in all of the processes connected with cultivation. Even the driftless area 
received great benefit from the action of glaciers, for although the area was not 
invaded by ice, it was yet to a large extent covered by a peculiar deposit called 
loess, which is generally connected with one of the later sheets of drift. The 
loess is a porous clay, rich in carbonate of lime. Throughout the driftless area 
it has covered up many spots that would otherwise have been bare rocks. It 
covered the stiff intractable clays that would otherwise have been the only soils 
of the region. It in itself constitutes a soil of great fertility. Every part of 
Iowa is debtor in some way to the gi'eat ice sheets of the glacial period. 

"Soils are everywhere the product of rock disintegration, and so the quality 
of the soils in a given locality must necessarily be determined in large measure 
by the kind of rock from which they were derived. 

"From this point of view, therefore, the history of Iowa's superb soils begins 
with first steps in rock making. The very oldest rocks of the Mississippi Valley 
have contributed something to making our soils what they are, and every later 
formation laid down over the surface of Iowa, or regions north of it, has furnished 
its quota of materials to the same end. The liistory of Iowa's soils, therefore, 
embraces the whole sweep of geologic times. 

"The chief agents concerned in modifying the surface throughout most of 
Iowa since the disappearance of the latest glaciers have been organic, although 
the physical and chemical influences of air and water have not been without 
marked effect. The growth and decay of a long series of generations of plants 
have contributed certain organic constituents to the soil. Earth worms bring up 
fine material from considerable depths and place it in position to be spread out 
upon the surface. They drag leaves and any manageable portion of plants into 
their burrows, and much of the material so taken do\™ into the ground decays 
and enriches the ground to a depth of several inches. Tiie ])ocket gopher has 
done much to furnish a surface layer of loose, mellow, easily cultivated and 
highly productive soil. Like the earth worm, the gopher for century after century 
has been bringing up to the surface fine material, to the amount of several tons 
annually to the acre, avoiding necessarily the pebbles. col)bles and coarser con- 
stituents. The burrows collapse, the undermined boulders and large fragments 
sink downwards, rains and winds spread out the gopher hills and worm castings. 
and the next year, and the next, the process is repeated ; and so it has lieen for all 
the years making up the centuries .since the close of the glacial epoch. Organic 
agents in the form of plants and burrowing animals have worked luiremittingly 
through many centiu-ies, and accomplished a work of incalculable value in pul- 
verizing, mellowing and enriching the superficial stratum, and bringing it to the 
ideal condition in which it was found by the explorers and pioneei-s from whose 
advent dates the historical period of our matchless Iowa." 

The last invasion, we are informed, was from 100, 000 to 170,000 years ago 
— somewhat prior to the recollection of the "oldest inhabitant. " 



CHAPTER II 

The First Inhabitants 

Who were Iowa's first inhabitants is a ((uestion of some interest. Areheolo- 
gists tell us that there have been found in the Mississippi Valley the remains of 
two distinct prehistoric races. The first human skulls discovered resemble those 
of the gorilla. These skulls indicate a low degree of intelligence. The first 
inhabitants were but a grade above the lower animals. They were small in body, 
and brute-like in appearance. 

Next came the "mound builders." There are evidences that these had some 
degree of intelligence. Copper and stone implements have been found in the 
mounds. Whether they built towns and cities or tilled the soil is not known. 
Pieces of cloth discovered in the mounds would indicate some knowledge of the 
arts. Their number, their size, color, customs — all are lost to us. We know 
they existed, and that is all. Several of these mounds have been explored in 
Iowa. They are fovmd in the eastern parts of the state from Dubuque to Bur- 
lington. Many interesting articles have been found in them — sea shells, copper 
axes and spools, stone knives, pottery, pipes carved with efBgies of animals and 
birds. Skeletons and altars of stone were unearthed a few years ago in some of 
these mounds, and in one were discovered hieroglyphics representing letters and 
and figures of trees, people and animals. 

These mouiuls liave also been di.scovered in the central part of the state, the 
valley of the Des Moines river being especially rich in them. Sometimes they are 
in groups, as though built for defense. It has been suggested that probably the 
conquerors of the moiuid builders were the immediate ancestors of the Indians. 

Wlien on June 25. 1673, Marquette and Joliet fastened their frail craft to 
the west bank of the Mississippi river where the Iowa enters it in Louisa county.* 
the only people living in what is now Iowa were the American Indians. When 
these venturesome explorers came ashore and ascended a slight eminence they 
beheld a scene of rare beauty. As far as the eye could carry they looked over 
an expanse covered with green grass waving in the gentle wind like the billows 
of the sea, with here and there a grove of oak. elm, walnut, maple, and sycamore. 
All was peaceful, calm, and restful ; the stillness of the desert prevailed. That 
the country was inhabited was indicated by a thin column of smoke which arose 
some few miles iidand from a small grove. 

The travelers socm reached the spot. There they found a small company of 
Indians in a village on the banks of the stream. The Indians were probably the 
more astonished of the two parties. They looked with wonder upon the strange be- 
ings who had come among them so unceremoniously and unannounced. It was prob- 
ably their first view of the white man. Recovering somewhat from their aston- 
ishment, they made overtures of friendship by oft'eriug the pipe of peace. 

It was soon discovered that the band was a portion of the Illinois tribe. Mar- 
quette bad enough acquaintance with the language of this tribe to enable him to 
hold an intelligent conversation with his hosts. He told the Indians who their 
visitors were, and why they were there. He expre.s.sed the great pleasure he and 
his companions took at meeting some of the inhabitants of that beautiful country. 

• L. 0. Weld, loxca Journal of History and Politics, vol. i, no. 1. 



4 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

They in turn were given a cordial welcome by the Indians, one of the chiefs thus 
addressing them : 

"I thank the Black Gown Chief [Marquette] and his friend [Joliet] for taking 
so much pains to come and visit us. Never before has the earth been so beautiful, 
nor the sun so bright as now. Never has the river been so calm or free from rocks 
which your canoes have removed as they passed down. Never has the tobacco had 
so fine a flavor^ nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we behold it today. Ask the 
Great Spirit to give us life and health, and come ye and dwell with us." 

This was an eloquent speech and demonstrated the sincerity of the welcome. 

Marquette and Joliet were then in^^ted to a feast which meanwhile had been 
made ready by the squaws. Afterwards ^Marquette wrote a description of this 
banquet, and it is of interest to reproduce it here: 

"It consistx?d of four courses. First there was a large wooden bowl filled with 
a preparation of corn meal boiled in water and seasoned with oil. The Indian 
conducting the ceremonies had a large wooden spoon with which he dipped up the 
mixture (called by the Indians tagamity), passing it in turn into the mouths of 
the different members of the party. The second course consisted of fish nicely 
cooked, which was separated from the bones and placed in the mouths of the 
guests. The third course was a roasted dog, which our explorers declined with 
thanks, when it was at once removed from sight. The last course was a roast of 
buffalo, the fattest pieces of which were passed the Frenchmen, who found it to 
be most excellent meat." 

The Frenchmen were so delighted with the beauty of the country and the hos- 
pitality of the Indians that they remained with their friends six days. They ex- 
plored the valleys, him ted and fished and feasted on the choice game they captured. 
The natives did all they could to make their stay one gay round of pleasure. 
They welcomed the coming guests with genuine hospitality, and when they could 
keep them no longer speeded them on their way in the true spirit. Six hundred 
of them escorted Marquette and Joliet to their boats and wished them bon voyage. 

This discovery attracted but little attention at the time in Europe, and many 
years passed before what is now known as Iowa appears in history. 

THE MOUND BUILDERS 

The Mound Builders, from what information we have been able to obtain, 
must have lived in the Mississippi valley and at one time or another way back in 
some remote age they must have resided on what later became Iowa. Chronology 
is not definite as to when or how the ]\Iound Builders arrived in the new world. 
It is merely speculation when one says that traditions point to a time tsvo or 
three thousand years ago when the ]\round Builders resided in the Mississippi 
valley and lived in villages and towns. It is true, that in various parts of the 
old world records have been found of other races which have preceded the races 
of which history has any definite record. As the North American Indians had 
no written language prior to the arrival of the Europeans, their traditions, con- 
sequently, go back but a short time at best. 

It is true that there have been found on the American continent various bones 
of animals which no longer exist, and there have been found relics of a race of 
men who were far different from the Indians as the whites found them on their 
arrival. In North America these pre-historic races have been called Mound 
Builders, and they have been the first inhabitants of the vast plains of what 
later became the United States. Still, it may be possible that the ^loimd Builders 




li. I.. WICK 



THE FIRST INHABITANTS 5 

may have driven out or exterminated some other preceding race of people, who 
had dwelt in this country forages before the Mound Builders made their entrance 
into what is known as the New World. Who knows? 

In Johnson's Encyclopedia, Vol. I, page 125, one finds the following: "Re- 
mains of the Mound Builders are spread over a vast extent of country. They are 
found on the sources of the Alleghany, in the western part of the state of New- 
York, and in nearly all the western states, including Michigan and Iowa. They 
were oh.served hy Lewis and Clark on the Missouri a thousand miles above its 
.junction with the Mississippi. They lined the shores of the Gulf of Mexico from 
Texas to Florida, whence they extended through Alabama and Georgia into 
South Carolina. They are especially numerous in Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Wis- 
consin, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee. Louisiana. Mississippi, Ala- 
bama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. Many of these remnants were evidently 
designed as works of defense or as large towers in war. No inconsiderable num- 
ber appear to have been formed as sepulchre monuments or as places of burial 
for the dead, while others seemed obviously to have been constructed as temples 
or places of worship or sacrifice." 

While Linn county and Iowa have not as many mounds of as much interest 
as, for example, the Circle Mound in Ohio, still there are a number of mounds 
found in eastern Iowa and a number in Linn county which would appear to have 
been c(mstnicted by ^lound Builders, or. at least, by some pre-historie race long 
since extinct. Some mounds found near Palo would indicate that they mu.st have 
been constructed a long time ago, for even trees of large dimensions have been 
found growing on top and around these mounds. The remnants certainly give 
evidence in places as though they had been constructed for religious purposes, 
which evidently is true of nearly all such remnants which have reeentl.v been 
discovered in Yucatan and Mexico. 

Some stone implements and ornaments have been found in some of these 
mounds. The.se implements are all flint spear and arrow heads and have been 
worked with much care and skill. Some pottery has also been discovered, at 
times ornaineiited and at other times very coarse. Some copper implements 
have been found of a kind and quality as discovered in the copper region of Lake 
Superi(u-. which, \uidoubtcdly. have been worked by the Indians and perhaps by 
the Mound Huildei"s. No bones have so far been discovered to indicate that the 
Mound Builders had the use of any domestii; animals. Very seldom have human 
skeletons been found, which might attest to the facit that these had been dug ages 
and ages ago. No tablets of any kind have been discovered, which might indi- 
cate that the Mound Builders had at no time a written language. 

Science has held that the Mound Builders were an agricultural i)eople and 
compared with the Indians much more civilized, and that the Mississipj)i valley 
was densely p(>pulated until the arrival of the Indians. Whether the Indians 
ext.erminated them or they were driven away, or they voluntarily renuwed from 
this part (jf the country is still a debatable question. 

"If it is really true that there were prc-historic [leoiiles. then the oldest conti- 
nent would be. in all proliability. the first inhabited; and as this is the oldest 
continent in the formations of the geological period, and as there are found relics 
of man in England in identically the same .strata as are shown in Linn county, 
why may we not rea.sonably expect to find i-elics of man — relics as old as 
any — in Linn county? If man cmce existed here, why may he not have always 
existed here? It is certainly unreasonable to think young Europe should alone 
have early relics of man. 

"What place the ilound Builders are entitled to in the world's historj'. since 
they have left no relics but mounds of earth, which mounds are probably funeral 



6 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

pyres or places of sepulchre, we can simply conjecture. We believe some rude 
carvings on slabs have been exhumed at Grand Traverse, Michigan, Davenport, 
Iowa, and Rockford, Illinois. These carvings may have reference to the sun, 
moon and stars; we believe the savants favor such an interpretation. As to where 
he lived, careful geological study of his mound maj' some day determine. He 
was a link in the chain of man's existence; tracing it to its source we may dis- 
cover some hitherto unknown facts regarding man 's origin, or the ancient history 
of America. This continent may have been more intimately connected with Asia 
than is at present considered. . . 

"Compare the average life of these nations with the age of the Cedar valley; 
compare historic age with Cedar valley, whose channel has been cut down through 
the rocks between one and two hundred feet. Look at these old Devonian rocks, 
with their fo.ssils as fresh as of yesterday. Look at the clay soil that overlies 
the rocks. Has it been changed in fourteen hundred or in six thousand years ? 
Now look at those mounds that are on the crests of so many ridges, and say how 
old they are ! Forests of giant trees have come and gone over them, how many 
times? Those mounds were built by the people known as the Jlound Builders. 
What of their life? What of their age? Wliat of their historj-? We have the 
mounds, and substantially the mounds only. But these mounds are an interest- 
ing study of themselves. We have not observed these mounds only in the valley 
of the Cedar river, above and below Cedar Rapids ; our observations find them in 
positions as follows : 

"LOCATION OF MOUNDS NEAR CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 

Number 
of 
No Location Sec. Twp. Range Mounds 

1 ' N. W. 1/4 S. W. 1/4 35 83 7 11 

2 S. 1/. S. E. 1/4 16 83 7 14 

3 S. 1/0 N. W. 1/4 16 83 7 11 

4 N. W. 1/4 N. E. 1/4 17 83 7 3 

5 N. 1/2 N. W. 14 20 83 7 11 

6 E. 1/0 18 83 7 11 

7 W. 1/, 18 83 7 11 

8 N. Wr 1/4 N. W. 1/4 24 83 7 12 

Total 84 

' ' No. 1 has eleven mounds, situated on the crest of a divide. The general direc- 
tion of locations is from north to south, or south to north. The correct location, 
I believe, is from south to north ; that is, they point to the north. These mounds 
are now raised about three feet above the level, and are uniformly thirty feet in 
diameter. Counting from the south, the sixth and seventh are generally within 
a few feet — come very near touching each other ; the others are as near as, may 
be, two diameters apart. These remarks will apply to No. 2, No. 3, No. 5 and 
No. 6. No. 2 has eleven in a line (as No. 1,) and then three mounds to the east 
appear to be parallel, and may have had the remaining eight removed by culti- 
vation. No. 4 is on the bottom — second bench land ; are a little larger in size ; 
the others, to make out the eleven, may have been destroyed by cultivation. No. 

7 has eight in position, and then a valley intervenes, and the three additional, 
making the eleven, are on the ridge next to the north. No. 8 has twelve. They 
are on the crest of a divide which passes around the head of a deep ravine, and 
follow the divide at the angle. Most of these moimds (No. 8) have been lately 
opened, but we think no relics were found. We have been careful to find the 
place that the earth composing the mounds was taken from. Grenerally, the 



THE FIRST INHABITANTS 7 

banks of a near raviiu' indicate, l)y their shape, tlie place. Under the strongest 
sunlight, in a mound cut throuirh the center, we could dete<'t no indication or 
difference in th(> clay to show that it had heen removed or disturhed, or that there 
had been any remains in it to discolor the clay in their (lecoini)osition. 

"Let it he observed that the mounds are substantially north and south in line 
of location. They are eleven in numlier, uniform in size, and, I believe, cover 
everj- ridge in the vicinity of the rapids of the Cedar having the direction suffi- 
cient in length on which the mounds eould be placed. They are built in tlie 
locality the least likely to be disturbed, and in the shape and of the material the 
most enduring. There certainly was int^-lligence displayed in their location and 
in the selection of the material of which they are constructed, as well as in the 
design of their form and positions. There may have been more mounds than 
these, but these are all that are left — all that are left of that race which might 
have sent from their number emigrants to people the new land, to the far west, 
the last continent, fresh and vigorous from the ocean, the newest bom, the best 
then adapted for man's material 'ind in(>ntal development." — History of Linn 
County. 1S78, p. 319. 

J. 8. Newberry, in Johnson's Cyclopedia, says: 

"From all the facts before us, we can at present say little more than this, that 
the valley of the ]\Iississij)pi and the Atlantic coast were once densely populated 
by a sedentary, agricultural and partially civilized race, ((uite different from tha 
modern nomadic Indians, though, jxjssibly, the progenitors of some of the Indian 
tribes ; anil that, after tnany centuries of occupation, they disappeared from our 
coimtrj' at least one thousand, perhaps many thousands of years, before the 
advent of the Europeans. The pre-hist«ric remains found so abundantly in 
Arizona appear to be related to the civilization of Mexico; and the remains of 
semi-eiviiized Indian tribes now found there are, perhaps, descendants of the 
ancient builders of the great houses and cities whose ruins are found there." 

Researches concerning ancient mounds have been carried on in a most scien- 
tific manner by Dr. Cyrus Thonuis. His chief work and research have been 
embodied in a monograph of over 700 pages and found the 12th Report of the 
government publications. 

Ma.ior J. W. Powell, whose studies of this subject have been considered 
authoritative, in his Pre-historic Man in America has the following to say: 

"Widely scattered throughout the United States .... artificial mounds 
are discovered which may be enumerated by thousands and hundreds of thousands. 
They vary greatly in size. Some are small so that half a dozen laborers with 
shovels might construct one of them in a day, while others cover acres and are 
scores of feet in height. These mounds were observetl by the early explorers 
and pioneers of the coiujtry. . . Pseud-archeologist.s descanted on the Mound 
Builders, that once inhabited the land, and they told of swarming populations 
who had reached a high condition of culture, erecting temples, practicing arts 
in metals and using hieroglyphics. . . It is enough to say that the Jlonnd 
Builders were the Indian tribes discovered by the white men. It nuiy well be 
that some of the mounds were erected by tribes extinct when Columbus first saw 
the shores, but they were kindred in culture to the peoples that still existed. 
. . . Pre-Columbian culture was indigenous, it began at the lowest stage of 
savagery and developed to the highest and was in many places passing into 
barbarism when the good queen sold her jewels." — J. W. Powell, quoted in 
Lamed. Vol. I, p. 45. 

Thus .scientists do not agree whether or not the Mound Builders were closely 
akin to the Indians. However recent investigators seem to agree with Thomas 



8 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

and Powell that the early inhabitants were much like the later denizens of the 
American prairies in their mode of life and means of subsistenee, in their 
weapons, arts, usages, and ciLstt)nis, in their institutions and physical character- 
istics, they were the same people in different stages of advancement. 

John Fiske, one of the scholarly writers on American history, has the following 
(o say on the early races in the United States : 

"Wliether the Indians are descended from this ancient population or not. is 
a (juestion with which we have as yet no satisfactory- method of dealing. It is 
not imlikely that these glacial men may have perished from oft' the face of the earth, 
having been crushed and supplanted by stronger races. There may have been 
several successive waves of migration of which the Indians were the latest." — 
Fiske 's Discovery of America, Vol. I, p. 15. 

"The aboriginal American, as we know him with his language and legends, 
his physical and mental peculiarities, his social observance and customs, is most 
emphatically a native and not an imported article. lie belongs to the American 
continent as strictly as its opossums and armadillo, its maize and its golden rods, 
or any number of its aboriginal fauiui and tloia belong to it." — Ibid. p. 20. 

An Iowa investigator, C. L. Webster, sonu' years ago examined several moimds 
on the banks of the Cedar river near Charles City and "found the skulls small 
which would show an extremely low grade of mental intelligence." — Amcricati 
Nahiralist, Vol. 23. p. 1888. 

This may go to show that tlie early inhabitants were dift'erent from the nomadic 
Indians that the first whites saw as they landed on the bleak shores of New England 
in the eleventh century. 

i\Iost writers on this subject are led to ))elieve that we have conclusive evi- 
dence that man existed before the time of the glaciers and that from 
primitive conditions he has lived here and developed through the same stages 
which may correspond to the development of i)rimitive man in Europe and Asia. 
Wliether the first settlers in Iowa tiien, were Mound Huilders. or Indians, or some 
other race may never be known, for a certainty. It is enough to say. that man 
existed and lived on what has become known as Iowa many, many centuries ago, 
and he left few if any remains which can testify t« his stage of development or to 
his mode of living. This is no doubt true, that man existed in Linn county count- 
less ages ago. but whether it was a different race, or simply the Indian race at a 
different stage of development may never be known and thus will always remain 
a mystery. 

INDIANS 

When the first white settlers located in Linn county the Red Jlen still occupied 
the land, and even aft«r treaties had been fully ratified. Indians were slow to give 
up these choice himting places along the Red Cedar and the Wapsie. It is needless 
to say that the rights of Indians were not jirotected and they invariahly were set 
aside and driven away as fast as possible. Still nearly all of the early settlers 
were very friendly toward the Red IMen, and in return received many favors from 
their hands. Of course, the Red Men were jealous of the whites, who gradually 
kept coming in and drove the Indians away. The Indians who most frequented 
this part of Iowa after the -settlenu^nt by whites were the Sac and Fox and Winne- 
bagoes. The Winnebagoes were a remnant of a warlike tribe, and at one time in 
Wisconsin were very powerful. These joined with the Sac and Fox in the Black 
Hawk war and were driven across the Mississippi river after the signing of the 
treaty of peace. 




LEWIS FIl-;iJ) LINN 



THE FIRST TXHABITANTS 9 

'J'hc i)i()ii('iT.s ill this county from necessity had to be frieniUy witli the Indians. 
.Many ol' tlie early settlers were able to speak the Winnehaso lauuruaKe. such as the 
family of Williiiin Abbe, the Edgertons. the Usher family, the Crows, and many 
others. The Winnebagoes linjiered around in this part of Iowa in the thirties and 
forties, when they were finally removed to Minnesota, much against thoir own 
wishes. Hut tlie Indians, rightly in this respect as in many others, were not con- 
sidered, foi' the white men ruled and looked out for their own selfish interests and 
did not consider the side of mercy, .justice or the riglits of the weak ii.s against 
those of the strong. 

The Winnebagoes were considered a hardy race and respected by the whites, 
wlio showed them many favors. Wliile the Winnebagoes had fought in the war 
of 1812 under Tecumseh and had sided with Black Ilawk, i)erhaps reluctantly, in 
the war of 18.'J2, tlie.v were rather friendly towaril the whites, although they ver>- 
much objected to dis])Osing of all their lands east of the [Mississippi river by the 
treaties ()f 1825 and 1837, when they w'ere removed to Iowa. In Linn couiit,v they 
retnained for a longer or shorter i)eriod of time along the rivers such as the Cedar 
and the Wapsie, and especially aroiuid Cedar Lake, along the Palisades, in Linn 
Grove, Seoteh Grove west of Cedar Rapids, and in other places where there was 
much timl)er. While they were at times heartless and cruel, their relations on the 
whole with the early settlei-s in Luin county were those of friendship, and they 
showed the whites many favors in the early da,vs when the scattered pioneer fam- 
ilies were imable to acquire sufficient food during the winter months to std)sist 
u|)on. The Indians alwa.vs helped the whites, and frecpiently went out hunting, 
bringing back a deer, fowls, or prairie chickens, which tliey divided among their 
own people and the whites. 'I'hey early became fond of the dishes made by the 
white women, such as hominv. hone.v cakes, johnn.v cakes, and other delicious 
dishes foimd in the homes of the earl.v settlers on the frontier. In no inst<ince has 
it been reported that any white woman wa.s ever a.ssaulted bv any Indian in this 
county. In many of the cabins of the early settlers there covilii be found only 
women and children, the husbaiids liaving left for the river towns to bring back 
provisions, and this fact was frequentl.v known to the Indians. The early pioneer 
women used to say that the,v feared the rough border ruffian more than they did 
the.se traveling f)ands of Indians, who never assaulted anyone or ever carried away 
property by stealth, as the border i-uffians were frecinently accused of doing. 

The story of the Winnebago tribe of Indians can not be passed without some 
notice. The name Winnebago is said to mean "the tin-bid water people." and 
they are c-losel.v related to the lowas, Otoes, and the Jlis.souri tribes. They used 
to call themselves the Ilochangara. meaning "the jieople using the parent tongue." 
thus, perhaps, intending to convey that they were the original people from whom 
others sprang. They are Hrst mentioned in the .Jesuit Rt>Iations of IfiSd and 1640. 
It is .said that they were nearly annihilated by the Illinois tribes in early days 
and that the survivors fled back to Green Ba.v in 1737 and that the.v resided on 
the banks of Lake Suj^erior tnit once more drifted back to Gn'cn Bay and towards 
Lake Winnebago, stretcliing southwest towards the Mi.ssis.sippi river. On one 
of the islands in the lake which bears their name Ihey made their abiding place 
for a number of years and here they buried their dead and dwelt in peace around 
their fire places. 

In 1825 the popidation was estimated to be 6,000. By the treaties of 1825 
and 1832 tliey were compelled to cede their lands to the government, cert^iin 
tracts of land being reserved on the Mississijipi river near what is now known as 
La Cro.s.s«». Here they suffered from several visitations of smallpox, which plague 
is said U> have carried oft" nearly one-fourth of their number. 

From 1834-35 they were removed to Iowa and lived along the many rivers 
in the northeastern part of the Territorv as far as the banks of the Cedar and the 
Wapsie rivers White settlers came in. driving the Red Men out: hunting became 



10 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

poor and the Indians could not subsist and they were again removed to the Blue 
Earth reservation in Jlinnesota in 1848. On account of the Indian outbreaks 
in 1863, committed by the Sioux tribe, and in which the Winnebagoes took no part, 
they were again removed to the Dakota-s, where several hundred perished from 
cold and hunger. There are now only about 1,200 under the Omaha and Winne- 
bago agency in Nebraska, and about 1,500 in the state of Wisconsin. 

The Sac and Fox were also the early neighbors of the whites in this coimty. 
The Fox was an Algoukian tribe, first found on the lakes, and who were driven 
south by the Ojibwa where, for self protection, they united with the Sacs and have 
been .since known a.s Sacs and Foxes. They were always friendly to the British, 
joining them in the Revolution as well as in the war of 1812. After the Black 
Hawk war they were removed to Iowa and from here removed again to the 
Indian Territory from 1842-46. Many of the tribes kept coming back to their old 
hunting ground and finally they were permitted to remain on the Iowa river and 
provision for them was made by the legislature. About 400, known as the Jlusk- 
waki, are still found, survivors of some of the early wanderers iu eastern Iowa 
in the early thirties. The Sacs and Foxes and the Winnebagoes were always on 
friendly terms with the whites and were sworn enemies of the Sioux. 

Mrs. Susan Shields, a daughter of William Abbe, was on intimate terms with 
the Winnebago Indians, who used to gather at her father's home on Abbe's creek 
frequently. She learned to speak the Winnebago language, and remembered 
seeing manv wig\vams, or tepees as they were called, at the lower end of what 
is now Cedar Rapids. She speaks of the Indians as being kind to her and that 
her first playmates were Indian girls of her own age. Her l)rothers also played 
with the Indian boys and they learned to ride Indian ponies and to .shoot with 
bows and arrows. No trouble ever arose among the young of both races in these 
days ; rather the white boys were en\'ious to see the liberties granted the Indian 
boys and how they were permitted to roam any place at pleasure, never having 
any chores to do. 

Robert Ellis understood more or less of the Indian jargon, and still speaks 
of his many escapades among the Sioux, the Winnebago, and the Sac and Fox. 
At one time, about 1839, some 300 Winnebagoes were camped on what is known 
as ]McCloud's Rim. It was late in the fall and verj- cold; word came in the 
night that the Sioux were coming to exterminate the tribe. At once they broke 
camp and forded the river near the mill dam, first getting the women and children 
across. The white settlers were frightened. By nine o'clock the next morning 
the camps were up on the west side of the river and the gay young bucks had 
brought in thirty-eight deer which had been shot during the early morning, which 
were served to the hungry lot who had worked all night. While the Sioux had 
been in the neighborhood no attack was made upon the Winnebagoes at this time. 

Mr. Ellis also relates that he and two friends camped one night on the Cedar 
above Waterloo, where they were hunting. One morning in mid-winter a party 
of Sioux came to the cabin. They could do nothing but invite the Red Men in 
and offer them provisions and an>-thing they had. While the Indians kicked 
again.st the whites killing their game, the friendliness of the whites seemed to 
satisfy them, and they left their new found friends in possession of their camps. 
After this discovery by the Sioux Mr. Ellis and his friends made a hasty retreat, 
not wanting to meet their dusky companions again when they might return in 
larger numbers. 

Mr. Ell is relates another incident of his life among the Indians. He came to 
an Indian camp near Quasqueton on his way to Ft. Atkinson and had to spend 
the night in the camp. Unfortunately nearly all of the Indians were drunk 
and in.sisted on killing everj^ one. The squaws, who were sober, and a few of the 
old men, got Mr. Ellis to help, and all the dnmken bucks w^ere tied so they could 
scarcely move. Mr. Ellis then retired, and in the morning all were sober and 



THE FIRST INHABITANTS 11 

untied, and then the squaws and the old men who had been sober started in to get 
gloriously drunk. Mr. Ellis \vant<Hi to hire an Indian to show him the way to 
West Union, hut the Indian shrug-red his shoulders and replied, "wolf eaty you." 
Mr. Ellis started out alone afoot over the snow covered prairie on a cold winter 
day and rtnally reached a cabin late at night, nearly overcome from cold. He still 
believes he would have perished if it had not been for the words of the old 
Indian which kept ringing in his ears all day and which added courage to his 
exhausted spirits. 

At one time a large nuiiil)er of .Muskwaki Indians were camping near Indian 
creek, and as the winter was severe and snow deep the Indians were out of food. 
They came to the home of Susan Doty, who gave them the best and only thing she 
had — hominy — which she warmed on the fire and gave to the Red Men, who 
expressed their thanks by grunting and continually asking for more, till the 
entire sui)ply was exhausted. From that time, when the Indians returned from 
the hunt with a deer or two Mrs. Doty was always remembered with a good share 
of game. 

When the Indians lost ponies they would go to the old settlers like Usher, 
N. B. Brown, the Iluntei-s, Oxieys, or Dotys, asking them to assist in catching the 
thieves. One day Usher and Brown came to Doty 's with an Indian chief who had 
lost his pony. Hunter was also called in, and off the party started in pursuit of 
the horsethief, who was caught near Viola and who made himself scarce at once, 
for he was branded as an outlaw by the Indians, who would shoot him at sight. 
The Indian was more than happy in getting back his pony. These men who were 
wiling to help the Indians were .sure to get anything they cared for which could 
be procured by the red brother. A white man who would help an Indian to re- 
cover stolen property was forever a friend of the Indians of the tribe. 

The Indians in Linn county during the thirties and forties dressed in skins, 
lived in tejiees, and owned ponies; all wore government blankets and had guns, 
also procured from the government. The men and women dressed much the 
sanu". The wonu>n carried home the game, looked after the tepee, made maple 
sugar, which was traded to the whites for sugar. Hour, and woolen goods. Flour 
especially was much relished by the Indians. The localities much frequented 
by the Indians were along the Red Cedar and Wapsie rivers, Cedar lake, Indian 
creek, the Palisades. Linn Grove, Scotch Grove, and Prairie creek. In thc^e 
places they would remain for weeks at a time, when they would all pull up and 
leave on some hunting trip, not returning till in the fall or spring of the year. 
When' thev went to no one knew, and where they came from no one inquin-d. 
But the Red Men in early days in this county were all treated with due courtesy 
by the whites, who, in turn, were spared by the Indians. The best of feeling 
alwaj's existed among the whites and Indians. 

The Sioux very seldom eame into this part of Iowa. William Abbe and 
Robert Ellis were the agents for the government in supplying the Winnebago 
Indians at Ft. Atkinson with food, thus these men were well acquainted with the 
Winnebagoes, who. in turn, were on terms of friendship with the Sacs and Foxes. 
The Winnebagoes, like the other tribes, became addicted to the use of tire water 
to such an extent that they would sell their guns and ammunition for whiskey. 
One of the early experiences of \V. II. Merritt as a young store keeper at Ivan- 
hoe was to clean out the store single-handed of a crowd of dnuiken Indians who 
intended to take possession of the store for a sufficient length of time at least 
till they could consume the large quantity of whiskey stored therein, but they had 
not figured on the courage of the young man who later distinguished himself 
during the Civil war. Young Mr. IMerritt drove out the intruders and saved the 
store, as well as the property of the company for which he worked. 

Many of the old settlers tell stories of the quantity and variety of food these 
wandering tribes of Indians were capable of consuming, which seemed to be 



12 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

beyond the compi-ehension of the white man. Mr. Ellis relates how he and Wil- 
liam Abbe were notified to forthwith procure beef cattle for an Indian conference 
at Ft. Atkinscm. These men promptly drove a large number of young cattle to 
Ft. Atkinson from Linn county, and the Indians consumed in a very short time 
rations which were expected to have lasted for several weeks. 

Others have left records of straggling bands of Indians who were fed at some 
pioneer cabin and consumed quantities of food at a sitting several times more 
than the ordinary white man could eat in a week. But then it must be remembered 
that these Indians did not have their regular meals three times a day, by any 
means. They seemed to go for days and for a week without eating much of 
anything, and when a feast was set before them they did full justice to the repast. 

The Indians had an abnormal fondness for sweets. The making of maple 
sugar, especially in Wisconsin, had been one of the industries of the aborigines; 
a little was always made in Iowa. The .sea.son for sugar making came when the 
first crow appeared; this occurred aboiit the first of ilarch. while there was yet 
snow on the ground. As a substitute for sugar the Indians were very fond of 
honey, and it was said by tlie early settlers that the squaws could smell a bee 
tree further than anyone else. These bee trees were claimed by the Indians, and woe 
to the white man's son who bj' stealth or otherwise would encroach upon the 
Indian 's rights in this regard. 

Wliile the Indians were called cruel and merciless during the Black Hawk 
war and later, the pioneers of Linn countj- found them friendly, hospitable, 
devoted and loyal friends. Many instances have been cited how the Red Men 
risked their own lives even to assist their white friends. While they never for- 
gave an injury, they never forgot a deed of kindness. 




A SCENE ON THE CEDAR RIVER AT CEDAR RAPIDS IN THE FIFTIES 




RESIDENCE OF ISAAC CARROLL IN 1839 



CHAPTER III 

loica Ilistortr/i/ly 

We take the liberty of (luotiiig here a chapter from "The Louisiana Purehase," 
by C. JI. Geer, in The liistonj of North America, Vol. VIII, edited by Guy Carle- 
ton Lee, and published by George Barrie & Sons, Philadelphia, 1904. It gives in 
brief space the more important liistorii'al facts connected with the formation of 
the State. 

"The governmental experiences of Iowa before its admission into the Union 
as a State were many and varied. Its discoverers were the Tnissionary priest 
Jacques Marquette and the explorer Louis Joliet, who were living; at St. Mary's, 
the oldest settlement in the present State of .Michigan. On May 1:{. 1673, witli 
live Canadian boatmen, these two men left on an exploring expedition, and on 
June 25, 1673, landed near the mouth of Des Jloines River.* By right of dis- 
coverj' France claimed .jurisdiction over the country thus visited until 1763, when 
the Territory' was ceded to Spain. On October 1. 1800, it was ceded with the rest 
of Louisiana Territory from Spain back to France. On the 30th of April, 1803, it 
was in turn ceded to the United States by France as a part of the Louisiana Pur- 
chase. 

"These changes of government had little effect upon what was to (constitute 
the future State of Iowa, because the Indians remained in almost undisputed pos- 
session. Although discovered and claimed by France in 1673, no attemi)t at 
settlement was made until 1788, when Julian Dubuque, a Canadian, obtained 
from Blondca\i and two other Indian cliiefs a grant of lands. This claim was 
twenty-one miles long and extended fnnii the Mississippi westward nine miles. 
The grant was confirmed, in a (lualified way. by Carondelet, Spanish govei-nor 
at Xew Orleans. Dubuque engaged in mining and trading with tiie Indians, mak- 
ing his headquarters at the place which now bears his name. The question of the 
validity of his claim to this great tract of land came before the United St-ates 
Supreme Court in 1854. and the decision of that body was that his grant was only 
a temporary license to dig ore. 

"In 179!), a trading post was established on the Mississippi within the present 
territory of Iowa. This settlement and the one at Dubuque were abandoned, so 
that Iowa was practically an unknown and undesired eountrj' at the time when 
it came under the control of the United States in 1803. It was at that time 
Indian territory, occupied by the Sacs, Foxes, and Towas, with the still more war- 
like Sioux on the north and east. 

"On the 31st of Oct/iber, 1803, a temporary government wa.s authorized for 
the recently acquired territory. By Act of Congress, approved .March 2(), 1803, 
Louisiana was erected into two TeriMtorics and provision made i'ov the adminis- 
tration of each. The upper part was known as the District of Louisiana and 
included Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa. This was placed temporarily under the 
.iurisdiction of the Territory of Indiana. On July 4, 1805, all this northern dis- 
trict became the Territory of Louisiana, with a separate Territorial government. 

* This is the view of nearly all the writers ami historians but Professor Weld in vol. i, no 1, 
Iowa Journal of History and Polities, holds to the opinion that the landing was made at the point 
in Louisa county where the Iowa river enters the Mississippi and gives cogent reasons for his 
belief. 



14 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The legislative power was vested in the governor and three judges to be appointed 
by the President and Senate. This condition continued until December 7, 1812, 
when the Territorj- of Louisiana became the Territorj^ of ]Missouri. In 1821, 
Missouri was admitted into the Union, and this admission of Missouri carried with 
it the abolition of the government of ^Missouri Territory, so that for a time Iowa 
was without any government. It is a question how much law remained in force 
in Iowa after the admission of ^Missouri. It is probable that the only civil law in 
force was the proviso of the jMissouri bill, which prohibited slavery north of 
thirty -six degi'ees thirty minutes north latitude. No pro\'ision was made for that 
portion of the Territory of Missouri until June 28, 1834, when Congress attached 
the present State of Iowa, together with other territory, to the Territory of 
^Michigan. 

"On Julj' 3. 1836. it was inchided in the newly organized Territory' of Wis- 
consin. On Jiuie 12. 1838, the Territory of Iowa was constituted by Act of Con- 
gress. This Territorj' included 'all that part of the present Territory of Wis- 
consin which lies west of Mi-ssissippi River and west of a line due north from the 
sources or headwaters of the Mississippi to the territorial line. ' 

"From the time of the purchase in 1803 up to the date of the organization of 
the Territory in 1838 there had been a gradual increase in the knowledge of this 
land and a growing appreciation of its value. There had been parties of hunters 
and trapper^ who made temporary settlements on the banks of the Jlississippi 
in the period from 1820 to 1830. It was not till steam navigation was estab- 
lished on the ilississippi that there grew up a demand for Iowa lands. South- 
eastern Illinois and northwestern Missouri were settled and the pioneers naturally 
looked to the equally desirable lands in Iowa. Various exploring expeditions 
also contributed to a desire to settle in the territory. Lewis and Clark added to 
the knowledge of its western borders by their expedition in 1805. Pike in the 
.same year traversed anotlier part of the Territory, and these explorers brought 
back accoimts of its great fertility and of its desirability for settlement. 

"The government established a broad strip of neutral ground between the 
Sioux in the north and the Sacs and Poxes in the south to keep these tribes at 
peace, and in 1830 acquired lands on the Alissouri to be used as Indian reserva- 
tions. Here and there in the Iowa Territory were white men who had gained 
the friendshi]) of the Indians and lived with them. There were trading posts of 
the American Fur Company and miners at Dubuque, who were licensed by the 
government to work at that point. Iowa remained the home of the Indians until 
the close of the Black Hawk War, when General Winfield Scott, on September 15, 
1832, concluded a treaty of peace with the Sacs and Foxes, by which the Indian 
title was extinguished to that part of land known as the Black Hawk Purchase. 
This was the eastern part of Iowa and extended along the ^Mississippi, from 
jMissouri on the south to the 'Neutral Grounds' on the north, and westward a 
distance of fifty miles. It contained about six million acres and was to be sur- 
rendered by the Indians on June 1, 1833. This gave the first opportunity for 
the legal settlement of Iowa by citizens of the United States. 

"June 1, 1833, was fixed as the day on which the Indians were to be removed 
from the Black Hawk Purchase and the lands opened for settlement. The would- 
be settlers came in large numbers to the banks of the Mis.sissippi, ready to cross 
and get the choice of the land. United States troops kept guard on the western 
shore of the river and prevented any persons from entering the Purchase before 
the appointed time. At precisely twelve o'clock, midnight, June 1st, there was a 
wild rush of settlers from East and South and the settlement of Iowa was begun. 

"There was a rapid increase in population until the separate Territorial gov- 
ernment was established, June 12. 1838. The first capital was Burlington, and 
the place of meeting of the legislature was in a church. Robert Lucas was ap- 
pointed Territorial Governor, and William B. Conway, Secretary. The Terri- 



IOWA HISTORICALLY 15 

torial Legislature met on November 12, 1838. Burlington continued to be the 
seat of Territorial government till 1841. whon Iowa City became the capital. 

"The Territory of Iowa had a heated dispute with the State of Missouri over 
the boundary line between the two. JIis.souri's northern boundary was the par- 
allel of latitude passing through the rapids of the river Des Moines. There 
were two rapids, eight or ten miles apart, and the dispute was as to which of these 
was meant. Missouri insisting u])on the northern and Iowa on the southern one. 
Elach government tried to enforce its authority. In the attem])t to do this. Gov- 
ernor Hoggs, of Missouri, called out the militia; then Governor Lucas, of Iowa, 
called out his soldiers. Five hundred men were luider arms. On the petitions 
of Iowa and Missouri, Congress authorized a suit to settle the controversy, which 
resulted in a decision favorable to Iowa. 

"Further treaties were made with the Indians by which additional land was 
gained for settlement. A large tract of land was opened to settlers on May 1, 
184.'{, iind on the preceding night there was a rush of land seekers similar to that 
which had occurred ten years before ; over a thousand families settled in the newly 
opened lands within twelve hours. 

"The very rapid increase in population led to a demand for statehood. On 
July 31. 1840, the Territorial Legislature passed an Act by which it called for a 
vote of the people on the question of assembling a constitutional couvention. In 
August the vote was taken, n^sulting in the defeat of the proposition by a vote of 
two thousand nine himdred and seven to nine hundred and thirty-seven. An- 
other vote was taken in 1842, resulting in the same way, but on February 12, 1844, 
the suggestion of a constitutional convention met the approval of the ma.iority of 
the electors, and without waiting for a Federal Enabling Act a Constitution was 
adopted by a convention which met at Iowa City, October 7, 1844, aiul finished its 
work November 1st of the same year. This Constitution was submitted to Con- 
gress by the Territorial delegate. 

"Here again there was the effort to balance a northeni and southern State 
Maine had been admitted into the Union in 1820, and Missouri in 1821 ; Arkansas 
in 1836, and Michigan in the next year. Now, it was proposed to admit Florid;i 
with Iowa. At this time Florida was much below the required population. The 
Congressional debate on the .subject was a long and interesting one and brought out 
clearly the growing jealousy between North and South. This feeling was espec 
ially strong at this time because of the probability that several southern slavehold- 
ing States might be formed from Texas. 

"There was furthermore a dispute of considerable importance over the gencal 
boundary of Iowa. The Constitution submitted to Congress by the Territorial 
delegate provided that the boundary should be as follows: 'Beginning in the 
middle of the nmin channel of Mississippi River ojiiKisite the mouth of Des Moines 
River; thence up the said Kiver Des Moines in the middle of the main channel 
thereof, to a point where it is intersected by the old Indian boundary line, or line 
run by John C. Sullivan in the year 181(i ; thence we.stwardly along said line to the 
old northwest corner of Missouri : thence due west to the middle of the main chan- 
nel of Mis.souri River; thence uji in the middle of the main channel of the river 
last mentioned to the mouth of Sioux or Calumet River; thence in a direct line to 
the middle of the Tuain channel of St. Peter's River, where Watonwan River (ac- 
cording to Nicollet's u\:\p) enters the same; thence down the middle of the main 
channel of said river to the iniddle to the main channel of Mississippi River; 
thence down the middle of the main channel of said river to the place of begin- 
ning.' 

"An amendment was proposed in Congress which substituted the following in 
place of the boundary as given above: 'Beginning in the middle of St. Peter's 
River, at the junction of "Watonwan or Blue p]arth River; with the said River St. 
Peter's running thence due east to the boundary line of the Territory of Wiscon- 



16 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

sin in the middle of Mississippi River; thence down the middle of the last-named 
river \nth the boundary line of the Territory of Wiseonsin and state of Illinois 
to the northeast corner of the state of ^Missouri in the said River ^lississippi ; 
thence westwardly with the boundary line of said State of Missouri to a point 
due south from the place of be^nning ; thence due north to the place of beginning 
in said St. Peter's River." 

"Of especial interest was the attitude taken by Samuel F. Vinton, represen- 
tative from Ohio, in regard to the admission of Iowa. He believed that the West- 
ern States should be small in area in order that the West might not be deprived 
of its share in the government of the nation. It seemed to him that the policy 
so far pui-sued in the West had been wrong because the States were so large that 
they were sure to contain two or three times as large a population as the Atlantic 
States. There was at the time a provision under consideration that Florida 
might be divided, when either East or West Florida should contain a population 
of thirty-five thousand. Vinton contended that if Florida was to be divided, 
there should be a pro\'ision for dividing Iowa, because it was safer to give political 
power to the West than to the Atlantic States, for the West was the great conser- 
vative power of the Union. He stated that though the spirit of disunion might 
exist in the Xorth and in the South, it could not live in the West, because the 
interests of the West were inseparably connected with both, and it would hold 
the two sections together, because it had no prejudice against either North or 
South and, what was of greater importance, the West was a grain growing eountrj', 
and so must look equally to the manufacturing North and the cotton growing 
South for its market. Therefore the West must be conservative whether it wished 
to be or not. Vinton believed that instead of five there should have been at least 
twelve States in the old Northwest, and that to partly offset this injustice, small 
States should be formed west of the ^Mississippi. After considerable debate in 
the House, the bill for the admission of Iowa passed that body and wa.s transmitted 
to the Senate, which it passed March 3, 1845. 

"After a vote for admission, the constitution was submitted to the people of 
Iowa, who made serious objections to it. One objection was directed against the 
small salaries to be paid, which, it was feared, would result in getting only in- 
ferior men for official positions. The restrictions on banks and corporations 
proved an unpopular feature. The limitation placed upon the extent of territory 
claimed by Iowa was un.sati.sfactory to many, though the State would still have 
an area of forty-four thousand three hundred square miles. This reduction of 
area was the greatest objection, so that when the vote was taken many who were 
in favor of statehood voted against forming a state of such reduced area, and the 
Constitution was rejected by a vote of seven thousand and nineteen to six thousand 
and twent.v-three. 

"The governor called a special session of the legislature, and a liill for the 
re-submission of the constitution was passed over his veto. This was defeated 
by the people in August. 1845. On Januaiy 17, 1846, an Act was passed which 
provided for a new constitutional convention. This body came together in ;\Iay 
and adopted a new constitution which did not differ greatly from the earlier 
instrument. The boimdaries given in it were a compromise between those origin- 
ally asked by the people and those granted by Congress. The matter was actively 
discussed in Congress when the new constitution with the changed boundaries 
came before that body, but the argiunents were essentially the same as those 
previously advanced. An exciting campaign followed in Iowa, and the constitu- 
tion was adopted, August 3, 1846. by a small majority. On the 4th of August 
the president signed the bill which .settled the boundary question in accordance 
with the second constitution, and an Act was passed December 28. 1846. by which 
Iowa was admitted into the Union." 




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CHAPTER IV 

loiva (iiid II cr People 

"In all that is ^'ood Iowa affords the licst." 

Thus a few years a^o wrote one of our state's most distinguished citizens." 

And his uttoranco found a ready response in the hearts of the men and women 
of our fair land, so that today tiie expression is an axiom. Everj' lowan believes 
firmly in its truth. 

There is no fairer land under the benevolent sun. Here plenty reigns, and 
prosperity has her home. Cheerful industry has redeemed the land that ouee was 
the home of wild animals and untamed savages. Iowa's waving eorn fields; her 
meadows of luxuriant grass; her hills dotted with magnificent houses and barns; 
her landscajie made more picturesque by the presence of fattening herds; her 
school houses and higher centers of learning on almost every hill ; the smoke from 
the busy industries of her thriving cities and villages; her soil the most fertile of 
any known ; her waste land less than that of any other equal area ; her percentage 
of illiteracy the lowest; her mineral resources abundant; her numerous streams 
affording water jiower inferior to n<me — all these things and more rightly tend 
to make lowans proud of their State. 

Now. as a half centiu-y ago, Iowa offers "to the lawloving and the temperate; 
to the enterprising, the vigorous, the ambitious, a home and a Held worthy of 
their noblest efforts. '"t She throws open to the world her exhaustless stores of 
wealth, her Lrnlden opportunities, and says: "Behold your reward." 

X. II. I'arker. writing more than a half centnni- ago. drew this glowing picture 
of the future Iowa : 

"As the inuuigrant mother leads her sons and daughters into the undeveloped 
paths of wealth — as civilization elevates a race oiit of the sloughs of semi-bar- 
bari.sm — as national prosperity exalts a land • — or as science raises the human 
intellect from darkness into dazzling light — thus Iowa, with rapid strides. 
ascends the preeijutious sides of ]u-osperity 's mountain range, bearing her sons 
and daughters to loftier, and still loftier peaks, and revealing to their gaze still 
wider and richer vistas. And the sunnnit of this range she will never reach ; for 
her onward progress cannot be stayed, until her arterial streams are dry — until 
the agricultural life-blood in her veins has ceased to flow, until her great metallic 
heart has been emptied. I'pon the topmost summit, then. Iowa will never .stand, 
for through countless ages yet to come, her progress — that must be forever 
onward — must be upward also. "J 

The people of Iowa do not stand still. Xot satisfied with present achieve- 
ments, they go forward, doing well to-day the tasks that are theirs, and striving 
earnestly to make the future better and mor(> glorious than the past. 

We can not do better here than by quoting a toast to the future of Iowa given 
some years ago by 0. J. Laylander. a loyal son of the state : 

"In the few minutes allotted to this toast sc-ant justice nuiy be awarded so 
worthy a theme. We love you, O Iowa, lusty child, resting in the mighty arras 

• Hon. Sidney A. Foster, Des Moines. 

t N. H. Parker in Inwa As It Is in 1855, p. xiv. 

i Ion II As It Is in 1855, p. iv. 



18 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

of the Missouri and the Father of Waters, laughing beneath the warm kisses and 
the love tears of gentle May; crying aloud to all the world: 'See how I grow! 
How strong I am ! How happy and healthy and beautiful !' 

"Iowa is glorious now. The great, green carpets, fresh from the springtime 
cleaning, shimmer in the glorious sun. The broad, black belts of loam await mth 
open pockets the hiding of the golden grain. Li\-ing, glowing mines of gold 
stud the prairies' endless velvet folds. The countless castles of the farm are 
bound into great bundles by the sounding wire. Above every door that opens 
upon honest toil is inscribed in letters of gold the motto, ' Rich, rich, rich. ' 

"Such is Iowa today in its wealth of land and stock. Each year the unfailing 
field fills the bins to bursting and grows the meat for millions. 

"Material Iowa, with great leaps, has gone forward in the world's race. Jlani- 
fest destiny was misread by even the wisest of our grandfathers. Even thirty 
years ago no prophet dared choose the gorgeous hues necessarj' to a true pictvu-e 
of the Iowa of to-day. 

"Yet not alone in industrial lines has Iowa set the pace for the states. In 
polities she has crowded New England off the stage, and bold Ohio sits quietly 
at her feet. In literature and in arts she stands unashamed. Comfort and cul- 
ture walk hand in hand, and happiness is a perennial contagion. 

"Some fifty years ago there came to Iowa a stiu-dy boy. Today he calls his 
own one thousand billowy acres which have risen in value in steps of ten imtil 
one hundred thousand dollars would not tempt him to yield his title. One June 
afternoon he sat on his piazza in .sweet reverie. He reviewed the wonderful 
development of the grand old state, and sent his imagination in search of greater 
possibilities. From the hedge the thrush poured forth a song of love. The 
humming bees thrust their honeyed tongues into the flowers on the trellis at his 
side. The south wind was heavy with fragrance brushed from the blooming 
bushes. All nature conspired to steal the old man's senses and soon reverie gave 
way to sleep and dreams, and this, they say, was the dream: He dreamed that 
it was the year nineteen hundred and fortj'-one, and he was celebrating his 
hundredth birthday. He had seen comfort and culture become as common as 
the summer sun. Literature and art had coimtless coimtry devotees. People 
had ceased to hurry, and worrj- was imknowu : and then he dreamed that he died, 
and sought admission at the golden gate. To his amazement he was halted and 
informed that he was at the wrong place. Greatly grieved, he parleyed with the 
guard : ' I never wittingly did a human soul a wrong. I was rich, but it was not 
my fault. Why must I, who have always tried to do my duty, go to hell?' 'No 
one said anything about hell,' was the reply. 'To the annex — the second gate 
to the right". You Iowa people complain so much about celestial conditions and 
make so many comparisons with Iowa that we have concluded to colonize you a 
few thousand years and send you all back to Iowa.' 

"That the future of Iowa shall be such that if you shall not wish to come back, 
you shall at least wish to stay as long as possible, is my sincere desire. ' '* 

Calhoun made the assertion on the floor of the United States Senate that he 
had been told that "the Iowa coxmtrj- has been seized upon bj' a lawless body of 
armed men." Senator Ewing, of Ohio, and Senator Clay, of Kentucky, had 
received similar information, the former asserting that he would in no way ob- 
ject to giving each rascal who crossed the Mississippi to the westward one thousand 
dollars if by that means he might get rid of him. And these distinguished states- 
men were not alone in this view. To many in the east the first comers to the 
territory were ' ' land robbers, " " idle and profligate characters, " " fugitives from 

* Eesponse to a toast at a banquet in Waterloo in honor of Hon. Horace Boise, ex-Governor 
of the State. 



IOWA AND HER PEOPLE 19 

justice," "lawless intruders," and worse. They were squatters "who feared 
neither the laws of God nor man." 

Doubtless those who made these asseitions were honest and sincere. They 
believed that only the ino.st desperate characters, the outcasts of decent communi- 
ties, had the hardihood to exj)lore this terra incognita. They could not compre- 
hend how pei"sons livin<r in settled communities, and surrounded with many of the 
comforts of life, could he so fool-hardy as to leave all these thinffs for the sake of 
making a new home in a wilderness inhabited only by wild animals and wilder and 
more dangerous Indians. 

But there is another side to the picture. Perscmal obser\'ation is always more 
to be depended \\\w\\ than hearsay testimony. One of the most trust-worthy of 
the early writers on Iowa is Lieut. Albert Miller Lea. He had spent some years 
in the "loway District"; he had made a tour of observation across the state; he 
had most excellent opportunities for observing and studying the character of 
our first settlers. His testimony cannot be impeached, for he was a man far above 
the practice of deceit. In his Notcit on the Wisconsin Territory, particularly 
with reference to the Iowa District or Black Hawk Purchase, published in 1836, he 
gives this vivid and truthful picture of our early inhabitants: 

"The character of this population is such as is rarely to be found in our newly 
acquired territories. With very few exceptions, there is not a more orderlj', 
industrious, active, pains-taking population west of the AUeghenies, than is this 
of the Iowa District. Those who have been accustomed to associate the name of 
Squatter with the idea of idleness and recklessness, would be quite surprised to 
see the systematic manner in which every thing is here conducted. For intelli- 
gence, I boldly assert tiiat they are not surpassed, as a body, by an equal number 
of citizens of any countrj- in the world. 

"It is a matter of surprise that, about the Mining Region, there should be so 
little of the recklessness that is usual in that sort of life. . . This regularity 
and propriety is to be attributed to the preponderance of well informed and 
well-intentioned gentlemen among them, as well as to the disposition of the mass 
of the people."* 

Two years later another personal observer says: "He who supposes that 
settlers . . . who are now building upon, fencing and cultivating the lands 
of the government are lawless depredators, devoid of the sense of moral honesty, 
or that they are not in every sense as estimable citizens, with as much intelligence, 
regard for law and social order, for public justice and private rights . . . 
as the farmers and yeomen of New York and Pennsylvania . . . has been led 
astray by vague and unfounded notions, or by positively false information, "t 

These people knew the pioneei-s. and their testimony is entitled to credence. 
As a class even the "Squatters" were not idle, or vicious, or ignorant. They were 
young men, strong and hardy, full of courage and adventure. "There was not 
a better population on the face of the earth," is the testimony of Senator Benton. 
"They made roads." says Prof. B. F. Shambaugh, superintendent of the Iowa 
State Historical Society, "built bridges and mills, cleared the forests, broke the 
prairies, erected houses and barns, and defended the settled country against hostile 
Indians. They were distinguished especially for their general intelligence, their 
hospitality, their independence and bold enterprise. They had schools and school 
houses, erected churches, and obser\-ed the Sabbath. . . The pioneers were 
religious, but not ecclesiastical. They lived in the open and looked upon the 
relations of man to nature with an open mind. To be sure their thoughts were 
more on 'getting along' in this world than upon the 'immortal crown' of the 

' Not en on the Wisconsin Territory, pp. 14-1.5 (18.36). 
> Letter written by Peter H. Engle. of Dubutjue, in 1838. 



20 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

Puritan. And yet in the silent forest, in tlie broad prairie, in the deep blue sky, 
in the sentinels of the night, in the sunshine and in the storm, in the rosy dawn, 
in the golden sunset, and in the daily trials and battles of frontier life, they too 
must have seen and felt the Infinite. "* 

No greater tribute has ever been paid to the pioneers of our state than that 
given by a distinguished native of the state. Hon. Robert G. Cousins, on Iowa Day 
at the Trans-]Mississippi Exposition at Omaha on Sept. 21, 1898. The following 
extracts from that masterly oration are worthy of preservation here: 

' ' I have asked five of the ablest and most noted Americans what they regard 
as the chief thing or leading feature of the Trans-ilississippi region and they have 
invariably answered, 'Its men and women.' The other day I met one of the 
oldest settlers of eastern Iowa — one of tho.se original, rugged characters whose 
wit and wisdom have lightened the .settlers' hearts and homes for many a toilsome 
year — one of those interesting characters who never bores you and whom one 
always likes to meet — a man whose head is silvered and whose countenance is 
kind — and I asked him what he regarded as the principal feature of our Trans- 
Jlississippi country, and he replied: 'Well. I'm no scholar, but I've been round 
here nigh onto sixty years and I reckon 'bout the most important thing is the 
folks aud the farms.' 

"Iowa became a separate territory, with the capital at Burlington, in 1838, 
and was admitted into the Union in 1846, and has been in it ever since. It makes 
little diffei'ence whether it was first settled by the whites at Dubuque for mining 
purposes in 1788, or. for trading purposes, at Montrose, in 1799. or opposite 
Prairie du Chien. in 180-1 or 5, or in Lee county at Sandusla' in 1820, or on the 
lower rapids at what is now known as Nashville, in 1829 ; or whether the first 
settlements for general purposes were made at Burlington and Davenport in 
1832. The main fact is that it was well settled — not by dyspeptic tourists nor 
by invalids who had come west out of curiosity and New Jersey, nor by climate 
seeking dilettanti with two servants and one lung — but by the best bone and 
sinew of the middle states. New England and the old world. I do not know that 
there were any dukes or lords or marqx;ises or duchesses, but there were Dutch 
and Irish and Scotch and Seotch-Iri.sh and English and Americans, and they had 
home rule right from the start — at least they had it in the first school which I 
attended. The men and women who settled the Hawkeye state were not thoso 
who expected to go back 'in the fall,' or as soon as they could prove up on their 
claims. They were stayers. They were not men to be discouraged by winter or 
by work. They were men who knew that nobody ever amounted to much in this 
world unless ho had to. ]\Iost of them began simply with the capital of honesty, 
good health and their inherent qualities of character. They built their cabins in 
the clearings and. watching the smoke curl up in the great, wide sky, felt just 
as patriotic for their humble rustic homes as e'er did princes for their castles or 
millionaires for mansions grand. 

"To build a home is a great thing. It doesn't matter so much about the 
dimensions. 'Kings have lived in cottages and pygmies dwelt in palaces.' but 
the walls of a home always add something to inherent character. In the formation 
of character there are always two elements, the inherent and the adventitious 
— that which we bring with us into the world and that which our surroundings 
give us. Somebody said 'there is only a small portion of the earth that pro- 
duces splendid people. ' Our pioneers got into a good place. Thej^ had left doubt 
sitting on a boulder in the east and packed their things and started for the west. 
Rivers had to be forded, trees to be felled, cabins had to be built — the rifle must 
be kept loaded — so much the better, there was self-reliance. Com and coffee 
had to be ground, and on the same mill — so much the better, there was ingenu- 

* The Constitutions of Iowa, pp. 23-24 (1902). 



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IOWA AND HER PEOPLE 21 

ity. Teeth had to be filled, and there was no painless dentistry. Disease and 
injury must be dealt with, and the doetor fifty miles away. Life must be light- 
ened, lonely hearts must be cheered, and the old friends and comrades far back 
in the states or mayl)e away in fatlierland, and the cheering letter tarrying with 
the belated stage coach — hold fast, thou sturdy denizen and gentle helpmate 
of the rich and wondrous empire, infinite goodness guards thee and tlie fertile 
fields are ready to reward. 

"Ah. pampered people of the later generations, wlien you imagine modern 
hardships, think of the courage and the trials and the ingenuity of pioneers when 
there were no conveniences but the forest and the axe, the wide rolling prairie 
and the ox team, the great blue sky. the unsolved future and the annual ague! 
Complain of markets in these modern times and then think of your grandmother 
when she was a blooming bride, listening through the toilsome days and anxious 
nights for the wagon bringing home the husband from a distant market with 
calico and jeans purchased with dressed pork sold at a dollar and a half a hun- 
dred, and maybe bringing home a little money, worth far less per yard than either 
calico or jeans. Maybe it is all for the b6st, human character was being formed 
for the development of a great and loyal and i)rogrcssive state to shine forever 
among the stars of tlie federal union. 

"Civil government in Iowa proceeded with its rapid settlement. The pioneer 
became a model citizen. He knew the necessity for the laws that were enacted, 
lie did not feel oppressed by government. He had experienced the losses of 
robbery and larceny and knew something of the embarrassment and inconven- 
ience of being scalped. There was no hysteria about trusts and combines because 
they had practiced combinations themselves for mutual protection. If any one 
would learn the true genius and exemjilitii'ation and philosophy of self-govern- 
ment, government of and for and hy the ])C(tple, let him study the records of 
pioneer life, the institutional beginnings, and the evolution of their laws. It 
would be worth our while on some suitable occasion when time permitted to talk 
over the interesting incidents attending the administration of justice in the early 
days of Iowa, the incidents of its territorial legislatures, the birth and growth of 
its statehood and the character of its oflKi-ials. But the greatness of our state is 
not contained in any name. Its official histoi-y is the exponent of its industrial 
life and character. Its greatness is the sum total of its citizenship. In order to 
be just. John Jones, the average citizen, must be mentioned along with our most 
illustrious officials. Somebody said that the history of a nation is the history of 
its great men, but there is an unwritten history which that averment overlooks. 
The growth of a state is the progress of its average citizen. The credit of a com- 
monwealth is the thrift of its John Jones and its William Smitli. and the char- 
acter, prosperity and j)atriotism of the individual citizen is the history of Iowa. 

"The ])o]ndation of !t7. (•()() which she had when admitted into the union had 
increa.sed to 754,699 at the close of the Civil war. Of these about 70.0<X), almost 
one-tenth of the population, were in the war — a number equal to nearly one-half 
of the voters of the state. Who made the historj' of Iowa during that great 
struggle of our nation's life? John Jones, the average citizen, whether he car- 
ried a musket li<'l|)ing to put the scattered stars of state back into the constellation 
of the I'nion. or whether he toiled from early dawn to lingering twilight in the 
fields or in the shop. The best civilization is that wliicli maintains the highest 
standard of life for its average citizen. 

"Since the Civil war the state of Iowa has increased in poi)ulation to almost 
2.225,000 of people, and most of the time has had the least illiteracy of any state 
in the I'nion. Doubtless for that we are indebted to many of the older states, 
whose enterprising and courageous citizens constitute so large a portion of our 
population. With but a century of statehood and witli an area of but 55.475 
S(iuare miles, thf- state of Iowa produces the greatest (piantity of cereals of any 



22 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

state in the Union. As long ago as the last federal census, taken in 1890, it 
produced more corn, more oats, more beef, more pork than any state in the Union. 
Not long since I was introduced to a gentleman from New York city. He said, 
' Oh, from Iowa — ah — let me see, that's out — ah — you see, I 'm not very well 
posted on the geography of the west.' 'Yes,' I said, 'it's out there just across 
the Mississippi river. You can leave New York about noon and get your supper 
in Iowa the next evening. It might be worth your while to look it up. It's the 
state which produces more of the things which people eat than any other state in 
the Union. It has more miles of railroads than your state of New York, more 
than Mexico, more than Brazil and more than all the New England states com- 
bined. ' 

"The value of Iowa's agricultural products and live stock in roimd numbers 
for the year 1892 was $-107,000,000, to say nothing of her other great and various 
industries and enterprises. She produced that year 160,000,000 pounds of the 
best butter on earth of the value of $32,000,000. The Hawkeye butter ladle has 
achieved a cunning that challenges all Columbia. The Iowa cow has slowly and 
painfully yet gradually and grandly worked her way upward to a shining emi- 
nence in the eyes of the world. The .state of Iowa has on her soil today, if nothing 
ill befalls it, ninety million dollars' worth of corn. The permanent value of 
land is estimated by its corn-producing qualities. Of all the products of the 
earth, com is king and it reigns in Iowa. 

"Industry and nature have made the state of Iowa a creditor. Her soil has 
always been solvent and her system of farming does not tend to pauperize. She 
is a constant seller and therefore wants the evidence of the transaction to be 
unimpeachable. She has more school teachers than any other state except the 
Empire state and only three and six-tenths per cent of her population are illiter- 
ates. The state of Iowa has yielded the greatest dividends on her educational 
investments. She has become illustrious on account of her enlightenment. She 
has progressed further from 'primitive indifferent tissue' than the land even of 
Darwin himself, and in her escape from protoplasm and prejudice she is practi- 
cally out of danger. Marked out in the beginning by the hand of God, bounded on 
the east and west by the two great rivers of the continent, purified and stimulated 
by the snows of winter, blessed with copious rain-fall in the growing season, with 
generous soil and stately forests interspersed, no wonder that the dusky aborig- 
ines exclaimed when they crossed the Father of Waters, ' Iowa, this is the place ! ' 
Not only did the red men give our state its beautiful and poetic name, but Indian 
nomenclature rims like a romance throughout the counties and communities. 
What infinite meaning, what tokens of joy and sadness, of triumph and of tears, 
of valor and of vanquishment, of life and love and song there may be in these 
weird, strange words that name to-day so many of our towns and streams and 
counties: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Dakota City, Sioux, Pocahontas, Winneshiek, 
Keosauqua, Sac, Winnebago, Tama, Nodawa, Competine, Chariton, Comanche, 
Cherokee, Waukon, Muchakinock, Washta, Monona, Waupeton, Onawa, Keota, 
Waudina, loka, Ottumwa, Oneska, Waukee, Waueoma, Nishnabotna, Keokuk, 
Decorah, Wapello, Muscatine, Maquoketa, Mahaska. Ocheyedau, Mississippi, 
Appanoose, Missouri. Quasqueton, Anamosa, Poweshiek, Pottawattamie, Osceola, 
Oskaloosa, Wapsipinicon. 

"Ere long some westland genius, moved by the mystic inspiration of the rich 
and wondrous heritage of Iowa nativity, may sing the song of our legends and 
traditions, may voice in verse the wondrous story of his illustrious state. Maybe 
somewhere among the humble homes where blood and bone and brain grow pure 
and strong, where simple food with frugal ways feeds wondering minds and drives 
them cra\nng into nature's secrets and her songs — somewhere along the settler's 
pathway or by the Indian trail where now the country churchyards grown with 
uncut grasses hide the forms of sturdy ancestors sleeping all in peaceful ignor- 



IOWA AND HER PEOPLE 23 

ance of wayward sons or wondrous progeny — somewhere where rising sun beholds 
the peasantry at early toil and leaves them in the mystic twilight ere their tasks 
are done, where odors of the corn and new-mown hay and vine-clad hedges by the 
shadowy roadside linger long into the night-time, as a sweet and sacred balm for 
tired hearts — somewhere, sometime the song of Iowa shall rise and live, and it will 
not omit the thought of that gifted son who said : ' Iowa, the affections of her 
people, like the rivers of her borders, flow to an inseparable union. ' ' ' 



CHAPTER V 

The Geology of Linn County 

B^ WILLIAM HARMON NORTON, PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY IN CORNELL 

COLLEGE 

It is said that a certain county in Kentucky, underlain by limestone, always 
goes democratic ; while a county adjacent, miderlain by sandstone, is as invar- 
iably republican. Certain it is that a deal of politics, economics, and history- 
depends at last analysis more or less \\\mi\ the processes pa.st and present which 
belong to geologj' and physiography. The rocks, the minerals they contain, and 
the water they store, the hills and valleys into which they have been carved, and 
the soils to which they weather, largelj' control the industries, locate the cities, 
and outcrop even in the social, intellectual, and moral life of the people. The 
metropolis of Linn county, for example, owes its name and place to the rapids of 
the Cedar, and the rapids find ultimate cause in the fact that some millions of 
years ago nature stopped laying a softer rock upon tlie ocean bed and depositeil 
upon it one of more resistant texture. In the eastern part of the county the Chi- 
cago & Northwestern Railway runs for ver'y good and sufficient reasons where 
once rested the edge of a long tongue of glacial ice. and west of Cedar Rapids its 
route is determined by the course taken by the turbid floods issuing from the 
melting glaciers. The streets of ]\Iount Yernon and several of the main highways 
of the county do not lie with the points of the coinpa.ss but follow the direction 
of How of ancient ice-streams. The distribution of forest and prairie is due to 
geologic causes. The values of farm lands are markedly affected by the same 
influences, and we can even point out a little area which differs from its sur- 
roiuidings in its inhabitants and in their literacy, language, architecture, manners, 
and morals, primarily because it belongs to what geologists classify as the deeply 
dissected loess-covered Kansan drift sheet. 

Tlie inductive history of Linn county, reasoned out from what we have learned 
of the lie of the land, the shapes of hills and valleys, the soils and subsoils, and 
the underlying rocks, is a wonderfully k)ng one. The first chapter that has been 
opened to inspection in the geologic record of our area is that of the deepest rocks 
probed by the first deep well drilled at Cedar Rapids. At a depth of 2.150 feet from 
the siu-face — 1,417 feet below the level of the sea — the drill encountered a hard 
red siliceoiis rock which may be taken as the equivalent of the Sioux Quartzitt, 
which comes to the surface at Sioux Falls. South Dakota, and at Baraboo, Wis- 
(■onsui. This well known building stone is used in a number of the l)usiness 
blocks and private residences of Cedar Rapids, as for example in the old office 
building of the KrpuhUcau. Belonging to the Algonkiaii. an era so remote that 
its age must be reckoned in scores if not in hundreds of millions of years, the 
quartzite at the bottom of the deep well tells of time inconceivably remote when 
Linn county was ]iart of a wide sea floor on which red sands were washed to and 
fro and finally laid to rest in thick deposits of sandstone. Tilted and folded and 
liardened by pressure, the Algonkian rocks were uplifted from the sea to form dry 
land of mountainous heights. After the lapse of ages the old land sunk beneath 
the sea, and again and again with intervals of uplift and subaerial erosion 
there were laid upon it .sea muds, imp\u"e hmestoiies. and thick sandstones during 





INDEPENDENCE SHALES 
on C, K. I. &• V. My. below Cedar Rapids 



BLUFF AT KENWOOD I'ARK 




EXPOSURE OF BRKCCLVIED 

LIMESTONE IN MILWAUKEE 

CUT AT LINN JUNCTION 



THE BLOW OUT," PALISADES 





A FIRST SETTLER, NEAR 
MT. VERNON 



PALISADES 



THE GEOLOGY OF LINN COUNTY 25 

a long succession of geologic aeons. Samples of these deposits can be seen in the 
well drillings preser\ed in the Y. M. C. A. at Cedar Rapids and in the collections 
of Cornell College. For many millions of j-ears Linn county was thus .sometimes 
land and sometimes sea, but neither land nor sea was tenanted by aught but the 
humblest of living creatures. These ancient deposits concern us because they 
are the ai|ueducts by which artesian waters of purest quality are brought to our 
doors from their sources far to tiie northward in other states. 

The most recent of tin- fonnatidus which are pierced by the drill, but which do 
not come to the surface within the limits of the county, is the Maquoketa shale. 
reached in the eastern townships at a depth of somewhat more than 300 feet. This 
impervious bed of altered t-lay stops tlie descent of grovind water, which thus is 
stored in large quantities in the overlying limestones and supplies some of the im- 
portant wells of the county such as that of the town of Mount Vernon. At the 
time when the.se sea clays were laid, eastern Iowa was under sea. but so near was 
the low lying land to the north and east that vast (luantities of mud were brought 
in by its rivers forming deposits nearly 3(X) feet in thickness. 

THE SILURIAN 

With the lapse of ages physical conditions changed and Linn Coimty was 
covered with a warm shallow coral sea in which were laid the massive limestones 
which now form the country rock in the eastern tier of townships. In .some of the 
quarries one may see the ripple marks into which these coral sands were heaped 
by the pid.se of the waves, and one may pick out of the rocks casts and moulds 
of ancient sea shells, corals, and trilobites. which formed the highest forms of 
life then tenanting the Iowa .seas. 

The lowest beds of the Silurian belong to the Uopkinion stage, and are ex- 
posed along the ButValo. At Hill's mill and at Nugent "s quarries some layers 
are crowded with a characteristic fo.ssil — a plump bivalve shell as large as a 
walnut, which goes by the name of Fcntameriis Oblongus. The Gotcer stage 
of the Silurian rests upon the Hopkinton and embraces two types of rocks dis- 
tinct in their ajipearance and uses. The LiClain pliast of the Gower is a hard, 
brittle, erystalline. magncsiau limestone, or dolomite. Normally lilue-gray in 
color, it is often oxidised to bulf. It is well e.K]>osed at Viola and on the Cedar 
river from the Cedar County line to a mile or sn l)eyond the ri)per Palisades, 
southwest of Bertram. The LeClaire forms mounds in places reaching tifty and 
even eighty or ninety feet in height in whieh little semblance of bedding struc- 
tures are to be seen. Here and there the rock is conglomeratic, consisting of 
rounded masses of the rock cemented by a less resistent matrix. The cavernous 
recess in the nx-k wall of the Palisades, misnamed the Blowout, is due to the 
soluti(m of the weaker matrix and the dislodgement of the rounded ma.sses. The 
rock may consist also of angular broken l)liie-gray fragments in the matrix of a 
butf and friable limestone sand. Again, the moimds. at least in part, may be 
made up of mas.sive limestone with little trace of structure of any sort. On the 
sides of the mounds and merging into the conglomeratic or other structures the 
rock of the LeClaire often is stratified and the layers dip outward at angles sur- 
prisingly high. In places these tilted layers may show sharp folds. The rock of 
all structures is fossiliferous. p]ven the broken fragments of breccia are porous 
with moidds of minute fossils which have been removed by .soluti(^ii. The mas- 
sive rock is largely made up in pbices of stems of crinoids — stone lilies which 
grew in the greatest profusirm in these quiet waters — and the tilted layers may 
be made of casts and moulds of unbroken shells of little bivalves. Occa.sionally 
the saucer shaped tail and head-shields of a characteristic trilobite are foiuul 
piled together and unbroken. Coral are very common in this ancient reef rock, 
a form resembling honeycomb being especially noticeable. And as one floats 



26 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

down stream at the base of the cliffs he can hardly fail to notice large tapering 
segmented shells, either straight or slightly curved, representatives of the cepha- 
lopod mollusks. 

The picturesque rock walls of the Palisades, which rise perpendicular for as 
much as ninety feet from the water's edge, are due primarily to the great resist- 
ance of the LeClaire rock, due to its chemical composition — for dolomite weathers 
far less rapidly than a non-magnesian limestone — and to the fewness of those 
planes of weakness called joint-planes. The joints of the LeClaire are distant 
and vertical. The stone breaks down, therefore, in immense blocks where imder- 
cut by the river which leave for ages the scarp behind them as a vertical wall. 

Because of its qualities the LeClaire is one of the best lime rocks in the coun- 
try. The impurities of the clay, the iron and silica which it contains, may run as 
low as one-third of one per cent. The large per cent of carbonate of magnesia pres- 
ent makes it a cool lime, slow to slack and slow to set. and it is to such limes that 
architects, masons, and plasterers now invariably give preference over the so- 
called hot limes burned from non-magnesian limestones. The hardness and dur- 
ability of mortars made from the LeClaire rock limes approaches that of cement, 
and after thirty-five or forty years of weathering, joints in mason work seem 
almost as fresh as when first struck. 

The extreme hardness of the rock and the slowness with which it weathers 
make it specially valuable for crushing for macadam and ballast. 

The Anamosa phase of the Gower limestone is typically exposed in the large 
quarries at Anamosa and Stone City, l\Ioiuit Vernon and Waubeek. It is a 
light buff or yellow limestone, with constant, parallel, and horizontal or gently 
inclined laminated layers. The limestone is soft to work but hardens on expos- 
ure. The saw encounters no obdurate materials and the chisel finds the fracture 
even and regular. Bedding planes are so even and smooth as to be at once ready 
for the mortar with little or no dressing. Much of the stone can be split hori- 
zontally to any desired thickness, while the distant joints permit the quarrying 
of blocks beyond the facilities of transportation or any possible use. Many 
layers are so homogenous that they can be wrought into fine carvings. 

As a dolomite the stone is far more resistant than a purer limestone. In the 
Mount Vernon cemetery tombstones of this material, whose dates run back to the 
forties and early fifties, have been so little afl'ected by superficial decay that the 
tool marks are almost as fresh as when the chisel left them ; while marbles of half 
their age have broken down into ruin. 

The Silurian rocks of the county measure about 300 feet in thickness. They 
are confined pretty closely to the townships of the eastern tier, but extend beyond 
their limits up the valleys of the Cedar and Wapsipinicon. 

THE BERTRAM LIMESTONE 

As the Silurian limestones sink below the surface because of the westward 
dip. they are succeeded by a bed of rock, named from its outcrop at Bertram, 
and found along Big Creek as far north as Paralta and Springville. This is a 
heavily bedded gray rock which weathers almost white. At a number of places 
along Big Creek it forms picturesque cliffs, and hillsides covered with huge 
boulders of disintegration. At one point it is seen to overlie the Anamosa beds 
of the Silurian, and several exposures are Imown where it is succeeded by the Otis 
limestones of the Devonian. But as it contains no fossils, so far as is now known, 
it can not be said to which of the two ages it belongs. 

THE OTIS LIMESTONES 

The lower beds of the Otis, as exposed at the base of the Otis quarries, along 
the Cedar south of Cedar Rapids, at Springville, and at Coggon, consist of soft 



THE GEOLOGY OF LINN COUNTY 27 

mapiesian limestones, fossiliferous with many moulds of small bivalve shells of 
Devonian age. These pass upward into drab non-magnesian limestones carrying 
the principal fossil of the maj^nesian beds in considerable numbers. The upper 
limestones of the Otis differ within rather wide limits. The most common type 
is seen at the base of the high cliff at Kenwood on the right bank of Indian 
Creek — a hard, brittle ringing and thinly laminated limestone. Often it has 
been subjected to strains under which it has broken, and has been re-cemented 
with little displacement of the parts. Occasionally it is brown, and highly 
crystalline. 

THE INDEPENDENCE 

At the Kenwood cliff the eight feet of the Otis at the base is succeded by thirty 
feet of buff shale and clayey limestones — a formation known as the Independence 
from its discovery in a shaft sunk at that city. The Independence is exposed at 
many points near Cedar Rapids both on Indian Creek and on the Cedar. On the 
Wapsipinieon it is well seen at Cedar Bluff (sec. 24 Spring Grove Tp.), at the 
"Wolf's Den" a mile up valley, and again in the railway cut north of Coggon. 
In the long cut of the Chicago, IMilwaukee & St. Paul Railway west of Linn 
Junction the Independence is seen in one place as a blue clay shale carrying a 
number of fo.ssils characteristic of the shaft at Independence, but elsewhere the 
formation is unfossiliferous in the natural exposures so far studied. 

Wherever found the Independence contains nodules of silica, which may reach 
a foot in diameter, and often angular fragments of the same material which may 
be as fine as sand. The formation is marked by irregularities of deposition, 
channel cutting by drift currents, lenses of calcerous material, and rapid lateral 
change in the form and constituents of the rock. All of these characteristics 
point to the deposition of this formation in a shallow sea near shore. 

Indeed, some of the beds were apparently laid in marshes such as are now 
found along low ocean shores. Thin seams of coal formed in the Independence 
were once peaty deposits preserved by the presence of water from the decay which 
returns dead vegetable matter to the air. In 1871 such a seam of coal, not 
exceeding an inch in thickness, was found at a depth of ninety feet in a well on 
the farm of Mrs. C. Hemphill, near LaFayette. Pieces of the coal were taken 
to Cedar Rapids and Marion. A mining company was formed, and without 
seeking for any expert advice from geologist or mining engineer, and without any 
t€sts of the extent and thickness of the .seam, a shaft was sunk after the precious 
fuel. Water was encountered in such quantities that expensive pumping mach- 
inery was used, and in all several thou.sand dollars were wasted in a search which 
any competent geologist could have told was foredoomed to failure. 

THE DAVENPORT LIMESTONES 

The sea over eastern Iowa deepened after the deposition of the Independence, 
for there was now deposited upon its floor limestones in place of shales. The 
lowe.st of these, known as the lower Davenport beds, are hard, compact, and of 
finest grain, and so far as known are unfossiliferous. The npper Davenport is 
a tough, gray, semi-crystalline limestone which contains an a.ssemblage of fossils 
of many species. Highest of these are the first vertebrates to appear in Iowa 
so far as our records go. Fishes which swam over our area left to be imliedded 
in the limestones their hard enameled teeth and fin spines. The most common of 
the Devonian fishes was a small shark. 

In several other counties the lower and the upper Davenport limestones retain 
the attitude of their deposition. Rut everywhere in Linn county they have been 
broken into l)its and re-cemented, fonning breccia. These brittle rocks could 



28 HISTORY OF LINX COUNTY 

hardly give way to such immense stresses without causing sharp and violent vi- 
brations to run through the crust of the earth, and we may therefore list great 
earthquakes as a part of the history of our area in Devonian times. 

The best exposure of the breccia beds is that of the cut of the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee and St. Paul Kaihvay west of Linn Junction. The brittle lower Daven- 
port has here been broken and rebroken into a mass of small sharp-edged frag- 
ments, while the tough heavily bedded upper Davenport ledges have been frac- 
tured to large blocks, which sliding on each other have smoothed and grooved 
their sides. The breccia beds may be seen in the upper eleven feet of the Kenwood 
cliff, at Troy Mills, and in the cliffs along the Wapsipinieon valley as far down 
as near to Central City. 

THE CEDAR VALLEY LIMESTONES 

The Otis, Independence, and Davenport limestones form a group called the 
Wapsipinieon, from its outcrop along the river of that name in Linn county. 
The remaining limestones of the Devonian are grouped together under the name 
of the Cedar Valley. These consist of limestones of various types, sometimes 
crowded with fossils, and sometimes destitute of any trace of ancient life. They 
occupy the western townships of the county. 

THE CARBOXIFEROUS 

At the close of the Cedar Valley stage the sea retreated westward from our 
area, and Linn comity became dry land. For long ages its rocks were covered 
with rich soils supporting a luxuriant vegetation, probably tropical in its aspect. 
We know that rimning water channelled this ancient land, for when at last in 
Pennsylvaitiaii (Coal measure) time the land sunk slowly beneath the sea, there 
were deposited in such channels clays and sandstones, which perhaps are only 
remnants of wide sheets of similar deposits now removed by denudation. A mile 
and a half south of Marion (southeast quarter of section 12. Rapids township) a 
well twenty-three feet deep penetrated a bed of dark shale which carried leaf 
impressions of a number of ferns characteristic of the undergrowth of the Car- 
boniferous forests. A third of a mile southeast of Lisbon, and again about two 
miles south of the same village, at Bertram at the east end of the railway bridge, 
and on the old county road between Cedar Rapids and Jlarion, are exposures 
of sandstone which in some in.stances contain fragments of the logs drifted from 
perhaps distant uplands and water-logged and sunk in these ancient sand beds. 
The Bertram outlier contains many rolled coral fragments and worn bits of shells 
of the Devonian, included in Carboniferous deposits, much as the same fossils 
may now be found in the river deposits of the present age in the .sand bars of the 
Cedar. 

MESOZOIC AND TERTIARY 

For a succession of geologic ages our county, in common with eastern Iowa, 
seems to have remained dry land, for no deposits of the sea are found ujjon it. 
On both sides of the continent mountain ranges of Alpine height were uplifted, 
and during the immea.surable years worn down, grain by grain, to flat and feature- 
less plains. But no deformations are recorded in our county history and the 
lands seems to have remained so 1o\a that little erosion was possible. We are 
permitted to conceive that over our savannas in Mesozoic times there roamed 
monstrous reptiles of strange shapes, such as are knowni to have existed in adjacent 
states. In the later ages of this era it is not impossible that during the great 
submergence which brought the Cretaceous sea over the Great Plains from the 



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THE GEOLOGY OF LINN COUNTY 29 

Arctic to the Gulf, including western Iowa, our area also may have been inundated 
and hupe swimming reptiles such as are found in the deposits of Kansas and 
Nebraska may have disported themselves where now our rich farm lands lie open 
to the sun. while in the air featherless cold-blooded creatures larger than any bird 
winged their way on leathery pinions. 

During the millions of years which are included in the Tertiary ages Linn 
coujity wa.s undoul)tedly dry land. On our grass lands pastured a succession of 
strange and uncoutli mammals evolving into higher and liigher forms. Among 
these denizens of the county were probably herds of j)ig-like creatures, three toed 
horses little bigger than foxes, and ancestral monkeys swarming in the trees, for 
such are known to have existed in other states. But these chapters in the history 
of the county can not be written from any local records. 

THE GLACIAL EPOCH 

The warm climate of Tertiary times changed slowly to one of arctic cold. Tlie 
winters lengthened and the summers becoming ever cooler and yet cooler failed 
at last to melt the winter snows. Vast sheets of glacial ice, such as that which 
shrouds (Jreenland today, covered iiuich of the continent. The geologic |)anorama 
thus pre.s(>nts our area as buried l)eiu'ath one after another of slow-mojiing glaciers 
hundreds of feet thick. The proofs of their existence are found in almost cverj' 
cutting which goes below the soil. Any quarry will show the rock deeply rotted 
and pitted by long preglacial decay. Here and there upon its surface will be 
found remnants of the deep red residual clays, the subsoils of preglacial times. 
V^pon these clays formed from the decaying rock rest stonj' clays in which clay, 
sand, and stones faceted as only glacier ice can facet, are mingled pell-mell to- 
gether, as only glacier ice can mingle. Occasionally is found the unmistakable 
track of the glacier left on the underlying rock scraped smooth and marked with 
parallel .scorings, as at the north end of the cut of the Chicago, Jlilwaukee & St. 
Paul Railway at Linn Junction. 

The glaciers also brought from ledges of granite and other crystalline rocks 
in Minnesota. Wisconsin, and Canada the boulders which form a conspicuous 
feature in some of our prairie landscai>es. These, the "first settlers." traveled 
to their destinations far more leisurely than any ox carts of the immigrant pion- 
eers-, for the glaciei-s can not have moved fa.ster at most than fifty feet a day, and 
probably at le.ss than a tenth that rate, judging by the rates of motion of present 
glaciers. 

The ice sheets of the glacial epoch pla.stered the county thick wifli the stony 
clays which they dragged along in their basal layers. The thickness of these 
glacial deposits proliably averages from fifty to one hundred feet. Old valleys 
cut in rock by Tertiary rivers were buried wholly from view, as. for example, one 
extending north from Prairiel)urg; and the farmer now plows his corn in fields 
which lie two and three liundred feet above the channels of ancient rivers. In 
places the old valleys were left to be re-occupied by the rivers. Such are the 
reaches of wide valley of the Cedar south of Center Point. In other places the 
rivers were diverted wholly from their ancient beds and made to flow in new 
channels which they have not yet liad time to widen and deepen to their ancient 
measures. Such are the narrow rock lioutxl valleys of the Wapsipinicon south of 
Troy IMills and of the Cedar at the Pali.sades. 

On the final retreeat of the srlaciers wafers from the melting ice swept over 
the eoiuity, leaving deposits of sand on the lower lands and in the valleys. Since 
the glacial epoch the rivers have cut their beds a score of feet and more below the 
deposits of glacial floods and in many places, as near the Ivanhoe bridge, rem- 
nants of these ancient flood plains are left as terraces or "benches" or "second 
botto7iis. " At Bertram the sands deposited by glacial waters near the mouth 
of Big Creek .stand about fiftv feet above the level of the river. 



30 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

THE LOESS 

A large part of the coxuity is covered with a deposit of fine j'ellow silt called 
loess. Dry, it crumbles into powder at a finger touch ; wet, it is somewhat plastic 
and can be moulded into brick and tile. On the hill and uplands the loess is 
thickly spread, adding in places at least forty feet to their elevation. Over the 
lowlands it is thin or absent. This yellow earth has been and is to be of greater 
value than mines of yellow gold. It is of inexliaustible fertility'. It contains 
abundant mineral plant foods, partly constituent, and partly brought up into it 
by ground water; and these foods are so finely pulverized as to be of readiest 
solution and absorption by the roots. In wet weather the loess mantle absorbs 
the rainfall like a sponge ; in months of desert drouth, like those of the summer of 
1910, it returns the water to the surface, like a wick, to preserve the crops from 
failure. 

A disadvantage of the loess lies in the readiness with which it washes. The 
forest which once covered nearly all the uplands protected the soil from wash by 
means of its mattress of roots and the thick prairie sod was equally efficient where 
hill slopes were grassed over. But where forests have been thoughtlessly cut 
down, and steep slopes turned to plow land, it is but a few years until the brown 
top-soil is all washed away and the fields in spring when freshly plowed are as 
yellow as a deep cut in road or brick yard. The foot path in the pasture or the 
furrow of the plow becomes a gully in a single heavy rain, and unless checked soon 
becomes a gulch scores of feet in width. 

By accenting the height of the ridges the loess also adds to the scenerj' of the 
county. Our area lies in a part of east central Iowa where the stony clays depos- 
ited by ancient glaciers accumulated in long ridges and belts of upland rising 
many feet above the intervening undulating plains. Because of the alternation of 
ridge and lowland no part of the state except the valley of the Upper Mississippi 
has so beautiful and wide and varied prospects. Over more or less of their course 
the rivers of the coimty have cut their channels lengthwise in the ridges, thus giving 
rise to the bold scenery of the Wapsipinieon above Central City, and of the Cedar 
near Mount Vernon. Some of these picturesque reaches of river and cliff and 
forest slope should surely be converted into county parks in the near future and 
preserved for the gratification of all coming generations. Unless this is done we 
may expect that the forests will be cut down and the hill slopes gashed with coimt- 
less gullies; while the lichened rocks of the river cliffs fringed with fern and 
taiuarisk will give place to unsightly quarries. 

While Linn coimty was sheeted with glacier ice, no life of any sort was possi- 
ble within its limits. But during the long interglacial epochs which intervened 
between the ice invasions, forests grew and animals now extinct roamed over our 
hills and plains. Among these early inhabitants maj' be mentioned extinct horses 
and the giant proboscidians, the mammoth, and the mastodon. These returned to 
the area after the final retreat of the ice and their remains are found in the peat 
bogs and river gravels. In the earliest of the interglacial epochs It is quite prob- 
able that some of the gigantic groundsloths of South America made their home 
here, since they are known to have done so in the western counties of the state. 
No traces of man have been foimd in the glacial deposits of Iowa, nor have any 
indubitable evidences of his presence in glaeial times been found in North America. 
Sometime, we know not when, roving tribes of Indians set foot within our area, 
and geology gives place to archeology'. And when the white man appeared, in- 
ductive history ends and there begins the history of tradition and written records. 



CHAPTER VI 

Beginnings in Linn County 

The Black Hawk war, thou^'li confined to the state of Illinois, made an epoch 
in the hist^try of Iowa. It was the last of the many Indian wars, and was cou- 
clnded by a cession of much of the valuable lands of Iowa to the fifovennnent. 
Reports of the war had stirred up more or less enthusiasm as to the future of the 
west, and settlers began to come soon after the w^ar had ended. Many of the 
officers, and others who had taken part in the war, became the g-ovemment agents 
and officials in various capacities in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The govern- 
ment also, through its representatives in eongress. planned great things for the 
west in oi)ening canals and roads, while rivers were made navigable and steam- 
ship traffic opened up. 

One must not be led to believe that Iowa was the only i)art of the west which 
grew so rapidly. The growth was general, it is true, but Iowa seems to have 
grown more rapidly than any other of the territories between 1836 and 1846. 

Illinois was admitted as a state in 1818; Missouri three years later; next 
came Iowa in 1846, while Wisconsin, which had been explored in 1639, was not 
admitted to statehood till 1848; and Minnesota, settled as early as 1680. and 
having a fort built in 1820. was not admitted to statehood till 1858. Thus, it 
would ai)pear, that Iowa remained a territ«rj' for a shorter period of time than 
any other of the western states located in the Missis-sippi valle.v, but, of course, 
there is reason for this. It was a prairie state, in the first instance, and on the 
east wiis bounded by a great waterway and by a state teeming with an aggressive 
population, many of whose people soon cros.sed the borderland even before the 
government had made proper surve.vs and thrown the land open to settlement. 

Henry Dodge was apjiointed governor of the new Territory of Wiscon.sin in 
1836. Iowa at that time being a part of Wisconsin. With the exception of a few 
settlements of white people along Lake Jlichigan and in the mining region around 
Dubuque there were few. if any. white settlers. Governor Dodge's work was 
largely with the Indians, in making contracts and ceding lands to the govern- 
ment. Settlers were coming in constantly and a demand for a survey of the 
lands was made from time to time. Survey of the public lands in Iowa was 
begun in the fall of 1836. Great preparations for the land sales were made. 
These were to take place in Dubuque and Burlington in Novemb(>r, 1838. The 
settlers who had arrived on these lands for some time prior to its survey arranged 
among them.si'lves to .select an arbitration a.ssociation. each township making a 
register of all claims, and choosing one representative to attend the land sales, 
giving him authority to bid off the lands selected by each claimant. 

A. C. Dodge was appointed the first registrar of the land office at Burlington, 
and George W. Jones the first surveyor-general of Iowa. One of the .sun'eyors- 
general in the early '40s wa.s no other than Judge James Wilson, of Keene. New 
Ham|)shire. a son of a Revoluti(marv soldier, and himself a lawA-er of more than 
ordinary ability, a .judge, and at one time a member of congress. lie was ap- 
pointed by General Harrison, an old friend. 

At the first convention which met at Burlington in November, 1837, for the 
purpo.se of organizing a separate territory of Iowa, were the following delegates 
from Dubuque eountv. which, at that time, included a part of what later became 
Linn eountv : P. ll". Engle. J. 1. Fales. G. W. Harris. W. A. Warren. W. B. 



32 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Watts. A. F. Russell, W. H. Pattou, J. W. Parker. J. D. Bell and J. H. Rose. 
The conveiitiou in its petition to eong^-ess asserted that there were 25.000 people 
in that portion of Wisconsin Territory known as "The Iowa District;" that 
houses had been erected; that farms were cultivated, and still people could not 
obtain title to their lands, and asking that the part west of the river be set as-ide 
as a separate territory. This was one of the most important conventions held 
on what became Iowa soil, and congress at once took action to make such provis- 
ions as were thought wise and expedient. 

Linn county was esta])lished by an act of the legislature of the Territory of 
Wisconsin approved on December 21, 1837. The county wa.s regular in shape, 
!>ut four townships larger than its neighbors on the north and east, which were 
created at the same time. The boundaries received at this time have not been 
altered. The spelling of the name was Lynn, although it was spelled in the 
body of the act itself Linn ; it took its name from Dr. Louis F. Linn. United States 
senator from Missouri, who was appointed to that office in 1833 and who was a 
friend and admirer of President Jackson, and much interested in the develop- 
ment of the west. 

The eastern part of Linn county, perhaps one-third, had been part of the 
original coimty of Dnbuciue since 1834. the boundary line rtmning from the 
southeast corner of the coimty in a northwesterly line a little to the west of the 
middle in the noz'thern pai't of the county. Linn county then eml)races within 
its limits two Indian land cessions. The ea.stern part was acquired from the 
Sac and Fox Indians by the treaty of September 21. 1832. known as the Black 
Hawk Purchase; the western part, or the other two-thirds, was acquired by treaty 
of October 21. 1837. The fourteen coiuities created by an act sub-dividing 
Dubuque county into new counties, which was approved October 21, 1837, were 
as follows: Dubu(|ue, Claytcm, Jackson, Benton. Liun. Jones. Clinton. Johnson, 
Scott, Delaware, Buchanan. Cedar. Fayette, and Keokuk. While most of these 
counties were established outright the wording of the act relating to Dubuque 
county implies that it was looked upon as the former county reduced in size, 
which was not correct. a.s this land from which these counties were laid out also 
included much of the Sac and Fox cession made after Dubuque coimty had been 
formed and laid out. and which county had not been ceded to the Ignited States 
government. 

These boundai-j' lines were reduced in size later ; however the boundaries of 
Dubuque, Delaware. Jackson. Jones. Linn. Clinton, Cedar, and Scott have re- 
mained as they were laid out at the time. The Territory of Iowa was created by 
an act of congress approved June 12, 1838. 

Among the bills passed by the first legislature, which met during the w-inter 
of 1838 and 1839, was the following: "An Act to Organize the Coimty of Linn, 
and establish the Seat of Justice thereof. 

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Coimcil and House of Representatives 
of the Territory of Iowa, that the county of Linn be and the same is hereby 
organized from and after the 10th of June next, and the inhabitants of said 
county be entitled to all the rights and privileges to which, by law. the inhabitants 
of other organized coimties of this Territory are entitled, and the said county 
shall be a part of the Third Judicial District, and the District Court shall be held 
at the seat of justice of said county, or such other place as may be provided until 
the seat of justice is established. 

"Section 2. That Richard Knott. Lyman Dillon and Benjamin Nye be and 
they are hereby appointed Commissioners to locate the seat of justice in said 
eounly', and shall meet at the house of William Abbe, on the first Monday of 
March next, in said county, and shall proceed forthwith to examine and locate 
a suitable place for the seat of justice of said county, ha\'ing particular refer- 
ence to the convenience of the coimtv and healthfulness of the location. 



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BEGIXXINGS IX LIXN COUXTV 33 

"Section 3. Tlu' ("oiniiiis.sioni'rs, or a majority of tlu'iii, sliall. witliiii ten 
days after their nieetiii<? at the aforesaid jihice. make out and eertify to the 
Governor of this Territory, under tlieir hands and seals, a certifieate eontainiug 
a particular description of tlie situation of the location selected for the aforesaid 
county seat; and on the receipt of such cei-tilicate, the Governor shall issue his 
proclamation atTirmingr and declaring the said location to be the seat of justice 
of said county of Linn. 

"Section 4. The Connnissioners aforesaid shall, before they enter upon their 
duties, .severally take and subscribe an oath before sonic person legally authorized 

to administer the same, viz: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that 

I am not. either directly or indirectly, interested in the location of the seat of 
justice of Linn County, nor do I own any property in lands, or any claims, within 
the said county of Linn. So help me (lod. (Sipnied) A. B., etc. 

"Secticm .">. If, at any time witliin one year thereafter, it shall lie shown that 
the said Commissioners, or any of them, received any jjresent. gratuity, fee or 
reward in any form other than that allowed by law, or before the expiration of 
six months after the Governor's jiroclamation. declaring the said seat of justice 
permanent, tiecome interested in said town or any lands in it.s immediate vicinity, 
the Commissioner or Commissioners shall, upon conviction thereof by indictment 
in the District Court of the county in wliich he or they nuiy reside. t)e guilty of a 
high misdemeanor, and b(> forever dis(|ualitied to vote at any election or to hold 
any oltice of trust or jn-otit within this Territory. 

"Section 6. The Commissioners aforesaid shall i-i'ceive. upon making out 
their certificate of the location of the seat of justice of said coiuit.v. each two 
dollars per day. and also three dollaiM for every twenty miles going and returning 
from their respective homes. Approved January 1"). 1830." 

Two of the Connnissioners named in the act, Kichard Knott and Benjamin 
Xj'e, accepted the trust, meeting at the house of William Abbe, two and one-half 
miles west of what is now Mount Vernon. 

The Commissionere hx-ated the county seat in the niid^lle of the county and 
named it "Marion." in honor of cme of the Revolutionary generals. The Com- 
missioners reported to the governor of the territory the completion of their work, 
anci Governor l{ot>crt Lucas pnx^laimed the county of Linn duly established. 

For election purjioses Linn county was atta<-hed to Cedar. Johnson, and 
Jones, the first polling |)rei'inct being located at Westport. which had been laid 
out by Lsrael Mitchell with the expectation that this would be the county seat, 
Mr. Mitchell believing that the county seat should be located on the river, and 
that that hx-ation would be near enough the center for all practical purposes. 

In October, 1838. the entire county composed one precinct, and thirty-two 
ballots were east for candidates for the legislature. Charles Whittlesey was 
chosen for the senate and Robert G. Roberts for the house. The first county elec- 
tion was held in August. 183f). when three connnissionei"s were selected at West- 
port — L. M. Strong, Peter McRoberts, and Samuel C. Stewart. This body had 
the same powers as was later conferred upon the county supervisors. This 
commission first sat as a bod.v officially September 9, 1839, in the log house of 
James W. Willis. Ilosea W. Gra.v was .sheriff and acted as clerk of the court 
until a clerk was duly appointed. 

Tlie minutes state : 

"The Board proceeded to the aj)]iointment of a Clerk. Thereupon it was 
ordered that John C. Berry be and is hereby appointed to the office of Clerk of 
the Board of Linn Coiuity Commissioners. 

"Ordered. That the count.v seat of Linn County be and is hereby called 
and shall hereafter be known and designated by the name of Marion." 

At this session W. II. Smith and Andrew J. McKean were appointed eon- 
stables for the county. Jonas Martin was appointed road supen-isor. his district 



34 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

embracing all tlie land east of Marion and west of Big creek and east on the 
Marion and Davenport roads crossing Big creek. "It wa.s also authorized that 
as Linn County had no safe place for the keeping of criminals that Sheriff Gray 
contract with the Sheriff of Muscatine County for the keeping of one Samuel 
Clews, and that the Sheriff borrow funds to pay for the support and keeping of 
said Clews while in confinement." 

It seems that the board met monthly and the county was divided into three 
voting precincts as follows: One at William Al)be's. known as Sugar Grove 
Precinct, with the following judges: William Abbe, Jolm Cole, and Jolm ]\Ic- 
Affertv; oue at ]\Iarion, with James W. Bassett, Henry Thompson, and Rufus H. 
Lucore, .judges ; one at Michael Greene 's, with ^Michael Greene, James Cummings, 
and Bartimeas McGonigle, judges. 

At this time Ross McCloud was appointed county surveyor and was ordered 
to make the survey of the county seat and report, which he did. and also to lay 
out additions, which was done. A county jail was also ordered erected in Jan- 
uary, 1840 and the contract for the building of the same was let to William 
Abbe and Asher Edgerton for the sum of $635.00; the first money raised by sale 
of lots in Marion was applied on the contract for the erection of the jail. 

THE FIRST SURVEY 

The first survey was made in 1838, being all of Jones county and townships 
84, 85, and 86 north, in range 5, west, in Linn county. This was made public in 
the newspapers and many settlers came in, taking the best lands that had been 
surveyed and squatting on the other land wliieh they knew would soon be open 
for settlement. Linn Grove was an ideal place, and here in an early day a large 
number settled. The sale of lands in the county was advertised to take place in 
Januarj', 1840. On account of the difficulties of transportation, the settlers 
petitioned to have the same postponed until the summer of that year, which 
petition was granted. George Greene, who had been a school teacher near Ivan- 
hoe and even at tliat time was a man of no ordinary ability, was asked to see what 
could be done in changing the place from Dul)uque to IMarion. JMr. Greene 
vohmteered to go to Washington and lay the matter before congress, or the men 
in charge of the land department. After some time he succeeded in his mission 
and won the grateful respect of his fellow pioneers, sa^ang them a great deal of 
money. Thus, for a time, Marion was a United States land office, and the people 
of Linn county who had little money to spend could claim their lands without 
much trouble. 

THE FIRST COURT HOUSE IN THE COUNTY 

The first court house built in the county was a log structure for the use of 
the pioneers. This structure was erected during the years 1840 and 1841. As 
there was no money in the eoimty treasuiy and as the court house was needed, 
the settlers donated their labor. They cut the logs, hauled them to Marion, and 
constructed the building, the roof being of shakes and the fioor of puncheons. 
Among those who helped erect this first seat of justice were James and John 
Hunter, the Stambaugh brothers, James and Elias Doty, and others. The first 
case, it is said, tried in this court house was one bnmght against James Doty 
for jumping a claim on the west side of the river, adjoining the claim of Robert 
Ellis, the (|uestion being whether or not a man erecting a bark building and 
claiming the land had complied with the law. The jun' was impaneled and a 
trial had which lasted for some time. Wlien the case went to the jury the judge 
and all vacated so that the jury could use the small room in arriving at a decis- 
ion. The jur^- was out the afternoon and all night, and at ten o'clock the next 



BEGINNINGS IN LINN COUNTY 35 

moniing they reported that they were unable to a^ee. Durinsr all this time 
they had had iiothinf? to eat. and the wat*'r they liad to drink was very poor. 
Upon this jury sat James Hunter, one of the first settlers of the county, who was 
the only stubborn one to hold out in favor of Doty. He u.sed to tell later that he 
felt that he could never look James Doty in the face if he .should consent to such 
a verdict as the other eleven had framed up against him. The case was tried at 
a subsequent term when the jury decided in favor of Doty, to the effect that 
while he was later than the claimant in making his claim he was a bona fide 
settler with the intention of becoming a permanent settler. 

The next court house built in Marion was a frame structure still standing just 
west of the present brick building, and now u.sed as a hotel. Tlie present brick 
court house was erected by George W. Gray, the brick superstructure being built 
by Peter D. Harman. of Bertram, father of Warren Harman, of Cedar Rapids. 
Much of the carpenter work wa.s done by that old pioneer, recently deceased, 
William Patterson, father of W. D Patterson, of Cedar Rapids 

The first jail wa.s erected in January, 1840. the contract for the building 
being awarded to William Abbe and Asher Edgerton for $635. fKl The building 
was finished by May 1st of the same year. The first moneys raised by sale of lands 
were applied on this contract. 

At the July session, 1849, the county was divided into three districts as follows : 
the townships of Wa.shington and Fayette composed District No. 1 ; Franklin and 
Brown composed District Xo. 2; and Marion and Putnam District No. 3. At the 
July session, 1840. the board of commissioners began to discuss the question of 
township organizations. A vote of the county was ordered at the next election 
to determine the voice of the people; the election took place in August of that 
year and resulted in favor of the proposition. 

Lists of townships are as follows: Jlarion, Franklin, Wa.shington, Fayette, 
Putnam, and Brown established in 1841; Linn and Rapids, 1843; Ott^r Creek, 
1844; Buffalo and .Maine, 1848; :\Ionroe, 1849; Spring Grove, 1853; Clinton, 
1854 ; Jackson. 1855; College, Bertram, Boulder, and Fairfax. 1858; Grant, 1872; 
and Cedar, 1906. 

THE JUDICIARY 

The first records of the district court held in Linn county are dated Monday, 
October 26. 1840. Iowa TeiTitory, Linn county. Pursuant to an act of the legis- 
lature of the territory, approved July. 1840, the district court of the United 
States imd also for the Territory of Iowa met at Marion in said county on Mon- 
da}', October 26, 1840. Present: The Hon. Jos. D. Williams, judge of the second 
judicial district for the territory; W. G. Woodward, district attorney of the 
United States for the district of Iowa : R. P. Lowe, prosecuting attorney for the 
second judicial district ; H. W. Gray, sheriff of the county of Linn ; S. H. Tryon, 
clerk of the district court ; Lawrence ^laloney for the marshal of the territory. 

The following grand jurors wore among the best knowii settlers: Aaron 
Usher. Samuel Ross. James Leverich. I). W. King. Israel Mitchell. W. H. Cham- 
bers, William Donahoo, Dan Curtis. W. T. Gilberts. G. A. Patterson. Isaac 
Butler, John Goudy. J. A. Gibson, Joe Barnett. Asher Edgerton. William Cham- 
bers. 0. L. Boiling. Dan J. Doty, and Joseph Warford. As bailiff of the grand 
jury sen'ed Perrj- Oxley, one of the best known settlers. 

The petit jurors were: D. A. Woodbridge. Isaac Carroll. G. W. Gray. B. Me- 
Gonegal, John McCloud. Thomas Goudy, J. W. Willis. John Long, J. W. Margrove, 
Ira Simmons, John Crow, Joe Carroway, Steve Osborn, II. B. Mason, O. R. 
Gregory'. John Nation. Thomas Maxwell, and George Yiesly. 

One of the early ea.s«'s of record is that of A. Moriarty vs. N. G. Xiece. One 
of the early jury trials was that of H. C. Dill vs. John Barnett; one of the first 



36 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

erimiiial eases was that of Territory vs. W. K. Famsworth. indicted for starting 
a prairie fire; the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty." 

The probate docket is a verj- small volume but is filled with entries of much 
historical interest concerninfr the old citizens of the territor\\ Among a number 
of entries can be found the following: In the estate of A. Coles, claim filed and 
allowed November 8, 1842; in the estate of Thomas Gra.y, claims allowed in 18-4-1; 
in the estate of J. Barnett, claims allowed in 1843 in favor of Israel ^Mitchell in 
the amount of $4.50 ; in the estate of John Crow, claims allowed 1842, as well as 
against the estate of Elias Doty, administered upon in 1843 by "M. J. Dot^' and 
Jos. Grain, administrators. The estate of A. L. Ely takes up a number of pages. 

The first default case seems to be listed for the October term. 1840, that of 
James D. Stockton vs. Stephen Osbom, et al, the claim being assigned b.v John 0. 
Gray to plaintiff. The next case was that of Thomas W. Campbell and Perry 
Oxley vs. John Barnett, which was a transcript from J. G. Cole, a justice of the 
peace. R. P. Lowe acted as district attorney, while Isaac Butler was foreman of 
the grand jury. 

.The first entry made by a native of a foreign country to become a citizen of 
the United States was made by Peter Garron, stating that he was then a resident 
of Linn county and that he was formerly a subjwt of Scotland of the United 
Kingdom of England and Ireland, and that it was his intention to renoiuiee 
allegiance to Queen Victoria and become a faithful citizen of the United States. 

The first divorce action was brought by Dyer Usher against ]\Iary Usher at 
the October term, 1842. but it seems that the notice of publication was not served 
as ordered and no decree was granted. 

The firet decree of divorce granted was that on the petition of ]\Irs. Parthena 
C. Hewitt vs. Abraham Hewitt, rendered at the ^March term, 1844. 

CIRCUIT COURT 

Pursuant to an act of the legislature of Iowa, approved April 3, 1868, the 
county of Linn became part of the second circuit of the eighth judicial district, 
the circuit consisting of Cedar, Linn, and Jones counties, Hon. S. Yates, of Cedar, 
being elected judge. 

The first term was held at ilarion January, 1869, when "W. G. Thompson ap- 
peared as prosecuting attorney and A. J. McKean as clerk. 

The legislature in a few .years changed the boundaries of this circuit, making 
it composed of Cedar, Linn, Johnson, Jones, Iowa, Tama, and B(>nton comities. 
It was known as the eighth district of the ciroiit and district courts. John 
McKean was judge of the circuit court and John Shane, of Vinton, judge of the 
district court. 

By an act of the legislature the circuit court was abolished and Linn county 
wa.s incorporated into a district composed of Linn. Cedar, and Jones counties 
with three judges. 

NOTED AND EXCITING TRIALS 

Linn county has had its share of noted trials, and many are the pages which 
may be gleaned from its musty records to show how treacherA-, cowardice, and 
selfishness have here, as in many other places, played their parts. It is not best to 
uncover many of these pages, as it would perhaps add nothing to the general 
information or be of any value except as historical relics of a former age. 

One of the first murder cases in the county, at least as far as known, was that 
of Nathan Carnagy who was brutally assaulted by James Reed in llai-ion in 
1847. Reed had been drinking heavily and got into a quarrel with Carnagj' 
about some old trouble. Reed was arrested, tried before a jury, and acquitted. 

Another case was that of the killing of Pat O 'Council by Samuel Butler in 
1865, the affair growing out of a dispute over some property interests. The 



.^^^)00f''r 




FIRST PRESBYTKRIAN CHURCH, CKUAR RAPIDS, COMPLETED IN 1851 



.^; 






■i^ 



rnOM CARROLl. S HISTORV 



RESIDENCE OF WILLISTON JONES, WHERE COE COLLEGE WAS BORN 



BEGINNINGS IN LINN COUNTY 37 

parties met on a publie highway, a iiuaricl fiisut-tl with disastrous results, Tlie 
jury in this c&sc also returned a verdict of "not guilty." 

John Akers Avas murdered in a saloon in Cedar Rapids in 1864 liy one Deck- 
lots; the jury returned a verdict of "guilty." This sad affair was due to 
liquor, both parties being more or less under its inlluence at the time the quarrel 
began. 

There are a numi)er of murder eases of an apalling nature on record; some- 
times a conviction and sometimes an acciuittal resulted. 

On the civil side of the calendar can lie found many cases attracting attention, 
sometimes on account of the charircs luailc. at other times on account of the large 
amounts of money involved. In tiiis forum majiniticent addres.ses were heard, 
and no lawyer i)racticing at the Linn county bar was ever a miser of his eccen- 
tricities, whatever they might have been. .Most of them had the thread of the 
attorney in their nature and took to oratory like a duck to water, and most of 
them in these early pioneer days went in to win the jur>- at all hazards, possessing 
the power to stir the heart and to make their jiersonality felt. 

THE ER.\ OF T}IE OUTLAW 

Along the American frontier were always found the outlaws; sometimes they 
outnumbered the honest settler and sometimes not, depending more or le.ss upon 
conditions. Outlaws preferred to hover on the frontier where courts of justice 
were unknown and wliere the sons of toil, busy with making a living, had no 
time to defend themselves again.st outlawry. Some of these outlaws had conunit- 
ted theft and robbery and were living upon this borderland of civilization, 
knowing that it would be perfectly safe under assumed names. Others came 
here for the special purjjose. knowing it was easier to make a living by theft 
than by honest toil. Thus, the Linn county frontier at an early date was in- 
fested with this cla.ss of peoi)le, and for a iniml)er of yeai-s the rights of the i)eople 
had to be protwted by a.ssiK'iations organized for this purpose, and made up of 
the best class in the community, until sucii a time as law and order could be 
enforced by decrees of court and by penitentiary sentences. 

Wlien the first white settler came into the Red Cedar valley there were oidy 
two counties fully organized west of the .Mississippi, with the excepticm of the 
state of Mi.ssouri. These counties were Dubu<|ue and Des Moines. They ex- 
tended from a flag station at Fort Armstrong back into the country forty miles, 
and from the Mi.ssouri line to a line running westward from Prairie du Chien 
in Wi.sconsin. It was a large tract of country, and offered .secure hiding places 
for law violators. In this wild coinitry. along rivers where the timber was fliick, 
hiding places for the outlaw were offered, and when settlers did con\e in the 
outlaw did not like to remove, and, conse(|uently tormented the actual settler 
aiul frequently took by stealth or force such personal property as he wanted. 

In the early day the country bordering on the Cedar river was Hooded with 
counterfeiters, and it is stated that this counterfeit money was so well made 
that it was difficult to tell which was the g(M»d money and which the bad and. in 
fact, at times it seems that the good money was a scarce article. No one was 
able to tell where this countei-feit money came from, but it is supposed very little. 
if any. was made here but that it was imported from other places and distributed 
by "healers" on a percentage basis. Wliile a cry was rai.sed against counterfeit 
money, only the government could handle such cases and very little was done to 
start prtK'eedings. Xow and then the government attorney would bring a case 
or two, but as a rule the defendants were generally released by a jury, many of 
whom were frieiuls of the parties accused. 

It was not until hoi-se stealing l)ecame prevalent that the people arost' in arms 
against the outlaw and formed associations called "anti-horse thief" a.ssociations. 



38 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

It was a difficult thing at first to prosecute, as the gang was well organized and 
had a perfect system of stations, agents, signs, and signals. The members of 
these gangs which infested Cedar, Jones, and Linn counties in the early days 
dressed better than the honest farmer, were more charitable, and in the day 
time, at least, were looked upon as the most respectable persons in the eommunitj'. 
They were shrewd and cunning in their business transactions, and hedged them- 
selves in such a way as to escape detection and exposure for a long time. These 
"free hooters" and plunderers would move from coimty to coimty and from 
commimity to eommimity if things got a little hot and they feared exposure. 
In counties where they were in the majority they would intimidate and scare 
the actual settlers, even if these knew positively that depredations had been made. 
And frequently the honest settler who attacked and complained was forced to 
leave the countiy instead of the outlaw who had many friends who came to his 
rescue. Many a man who was known to make a complaint before a grand jury, 
to a prosecuting attorney, or judge would be trailed by a company of outlaws, 
threatening letters would be written against himself and membei's of his family, 
that his buildings would be destroyed by fire if he persisted in bringing suits 
or attempted to file an information of any kind against any members of the band. 

A few of these men who were at least accused of being members of these var- 
ious gangs of counterfeiters, horse thieves and other desperadoes may be men- 
tioned. 

Perhaps the most noted ones were the members of the Brodie gang, composed 
of Jolm Brodie, and his four sons — John, Jr., Stephen, William, and Hugh — 
who came into Linn eoimty in 1839 and were among the first settlers in this 
county. They were natives of Ohio. Some had lived in Michigan for a time, and 
before coming here had commenced their career of villainy. On aceoimt of some 
misdemeanor they were driven from Clear Ford on the Mohican river in what 
is now Ashland covmty, Ohio, in 1830 or 1831, and sought refuge for a time in 
Steuben county, Indiana. Here they remained for a couple of years when they 
became so notorious as to arouse the country against them, and they fled westward 
in about 1835 and found their way into what was known as the Rock river 
coimtry, or Brodie 's Grove, Dement township, Ogle county, Illinois. In this 
part of Illinois at this time the country was completely under the control of 
outlaws and desperadoes, and here the Brodies found congenial companionship. 

Early in 1839 the Brodies gang were driven out by an organized society called 
the "regulators," composed of law abiding people who insisted upon law enforce- 
ment. They then drifted westward and located in Linn county. From this time 
on for a number of years there was scarcely a term of court but that one or more 
members of this family was arraigned for trial on some criminal charge or 
other. 

Sam Leterel. Christian Gove, James Case, also known as Jim Stoutenberg, 
McConlogue, Squires, McBroom, and others were members of this gang. Mc- 
Conlogue resided for a time at Cedar Bluffs, later removing into Johnson county 
where Morse is now located. Stoutenberg resided at times with ilcConlogue 
and at times ^vith Squires. A number of others associated with the gang and 
lived on the borders of Linn and adjoining coimties and went by various names. 
Where they came from no one Imew and they dropped out of sight if there was 
any danger of arrest and conviction. 

In 1839 John Goudy and his son-in-law, Thomas ]\IcElheny, and a son settled 
in Linn county, and it was noised abroad that the family was verj- wealthy. To 
ascertain whether or not they had money, some time in April, 1840, a man by the 
name of Switzer was sent to visit the Goudys vmder the pretense of wanting to 
borrow money, the real object being to ascertain whether or not the i)arties kept 
money and whether or not he could obtain a pretended loan. The loan was de- 
clined for some reason or other, but it is supposed that Switzer learned enough 



BEGINNINGS IN LINN COUNTY 39 

in liis talk with the Goudy family to know that tliey had money and there would 
be a chance to make a good haul. The gang went up along the Cedar river on 
the west side and crossed the river about where Goudy "s home was. Here 
McConlogizc had some conversation with a person who knew him. About mid- 
night of a day in April the door of the Goudy cabin was forced open and the 
inmates awoke to tind themselves surrounded by five burglara who threatened 
their lives if they did not give up their monej'. Old Mr. Goudy replied that he had 
but little money, only .$40.0(1, and that they could tind that in his vest pocket. 
The vest was searched and the money found. They insisted that he had more 
and demanded it. The old man persisted that it was every dollar he had, or 
that was about the house. The leader of the gang then ordered the house to be 
searched and directed the occupants of the beds to cover their heads at once. 
In the shunie for places Mrs. McElheny, a daughter of Goudy, recognized Swit/.er, 
who had been there to borrow the money a few days before, and also another mem- 
ber of the gang who was well known by the family. In the search for money a 
puree containing $120.00 belonging to a daughter, Hannah, was found by the 
burglars. In an old leather belt used by Mr. Goudy there was also a $100.00 bill 
which the robbers overlooked or could not find in their hurry to search the house. 

They became very angry at not finding any more monej', having expected to 
find $9,000.00 which ilr. Goudy was reported to have had in the house at the 
time. The robbers on leaving the hoase cursed ever>' member of the family, and 
seemed much put out at the haul they had made. Captain Thomas H. Goudy, a 
married son, lived near his father's cabin. He had been a captain of militia 
in Ohio and his uniform was hanging upon the wall. The robbers seeing this 
remarked "a military officer must be a rich man," and his money was demanded, 
but they received nothing, and after turning over everything in the house and 
finding only some provisions, they left Goudy and went to the cabin of William 
F. Gilbert, another prominent settler in the neighborhood, who was also supposed 
to have considerable money. On the night in question Gilbert had stopping with 
him three men, the mail carrier who operated a stage between Dubuque and 
Iowa City, and two others. In the Gilbert house, as in the other house, the 
cabin consisted of only one room with several beds, and on this night Mrs. Goudy 
and her children occupied one bed. the strangers another bed, while Goudy and 
the mail carrier slept on the floor by the fire. The entrance of the robbers was so 
sudden that before the occupants knew w hat was going on they were covered with 
guns and clubs, and their money was demanded. Goudy rallied to defend his 
home, and so did the mail carrier who slept near the door. Both men were 
knocked down and the cheek bone on one side of the mail carrier's face was 
smashed completely by a blow from a club wnelded by one of the robbers. 

The hou.se was thoroughly searched and the drawer of a box which was sup- 
posed to be opened by a secret spring known to no one but members of the family 
was forced and a $.')0.00 bill and some $30.00 or $40.00 in change were found and 
taken. While all the older members were frightened Mr. Goudy 's son, during 
the plundering, arose in bed and recognized a neighbor — one Goodrich, who lived 
but a half mile distant — as one of the robbers. This neighbor had up to this 
time been looked upon as a respectable man. It was he who opened the drawer 
as quickly as though he wa.s one of the family. The robbers secured as their 
share of the booty this night about $240.00. A young daughter of :\Ir. Goudy, 
who remembered well that night, was later married to Judge John Shane, of 
Vinton, a well known .jurist and a most excellent judge. 

This wholesale robbery stirred the whole coiintrj', and Captain Thomas 
Goudy especially, being a military man. insisted that now it was high time for 
the people to ar<nise themselves and if the officers of the law refu.sed to do any- 
thing then the settlers would take the law into their own hands and start some- 
thing going. Thomas and his father went to J. W. Tallman at Antwerp and 



40 HISTOKY OF LINN COUNTY 

Colouel Prior Scott at Pioneer Grove for advice and eouiisel. and especially to 
apprehend one Wallace who was implicated in this robbery. Colonel Scott went 
among his people and organized a "mutual protective association," the settlers 
hunted u\> their rifles and shot gims. and the organization was ready to begin 
work. Wallace had fled, but pursueix were on his track and he was apprehended 
in Illinois City in Illinois, ten miles above ^luscatine. by a citizen named Cole- 
man and t>u"ned over to Thomas Goudy and his party. Coleman's reputation 
in the vicinity was not the best and he had been suspected of harboring outlaws, 
but it was stated on account of some difficulty in the division of spoils he and 
Wallace had had a falling out and hence Wallace's easy capture. 

A warrant was taken out for the arrest of Switzer. and when Wallace was 
returned Switzer wa.s also arrested and a preliminary examination was held before 
John G. Cole, one of the first justices of the peace in Linn coiuity. Both of the 
parties were held to bail. Their eases came on for trial at Tipton at the October 
term, 1841. of the district court. 

James W. Tallman, a resident of Antwerp, accompanied bj' several neighbors, 
started out to arrest Switzer, a large man and an ugly one. Switzer resided near 
ITalderman's mill. At two o'clock in the morning a posse surrounded Switzer 's 
home. He refused to open the door and they waited till daylight before he was 
taken in custody. Switzer 's cabin was a perfect arsenal, there being guns, 
pistols, and ugly knives scattered all around. 

Later James Stoutenberg, also known a.s Jim Case, wa.s arrested at McCon- 
logue's as an accomplice and member of the gang. He was taken into the wmids 
near McConlogue's and examined in the court of "Judge Lynch" in order t<i 
obtain a confession from him, and he was finally tied to a tree and severely 
flogged. He was never seen alive again. Some assert that he left the country, 
and others that members of the party carried him to the Cedar river, tied him to 
a stone raft and left him to his fate. 

McConlogU'^ was also arrested as l)eing a member of the gang in the robbery, 
but he est<di!ished an alibi. IJeing satisfied that he was guilty of helping to plan 
the roli))ery the pioneer settlei-s, duly aroused, tried him by rules not known in 
the ordinary law court. He was sentenced to be hanged, but Anally it was agreed 
that this sentence should be changed to whipping, and that each one of the citi- 
zens should give him five lashes on the bare back, and if that failed to bring a 
confession as to the particulars of the robbery and the extent and names of the 
gang, then he should be whipped the second time until he died. Blows continued 
to fall npcm his (piivering and lileeding back until he implored for mercy and 
lu'omised to reveal all he knew about the robbery and the operations of the "free 
Ijooters. " He admitted having kiK^wledge of the Goudy robbery and that he 
received as his share of the booty .$25.00. He also admitted that Wallace was the 
leader of the gang at this time and that Switzer was another member of the gang 
of five men who perpetrated the robbery. The members of the association after 
this confession let him go. but first applied a solution of salt on his lacerated 
flesh, followed l>y an application of slippery elm bark to remind him of the ordeal 
he had recently jiassed through, and which he never forgot. At this tinu> Me- 
Conlogue was under indictment in Johnsoji county foi' as.saulting a man named 
Brown with intent to rob him : on this charge he was tried and sent to the pen- 
itentiary. 

Goodrich, a neighbor of the Gilberts, who had taken part in the robbery and 
who had been recognized by the latter 's son, was also horse whipped and gagged 
at the same time luit he refused to answer any questions and denied having taken 
part in the robbery. Soon after this he removed from the county and was never 
heard of afterwards. 

McConlogue's admission implicated iMcBroom, who had been known for some 
time previously as one of the brightest men of the gang, and who was also sup- 




DANIEL SEWARD HAHN 

One of the First Settlers in Linn County 



BEGINNINGS IX I.INN COUNTY 41 

posed to \k- a lawyi-r. lie was also eaugrht and wliipped nearly to deatii near 
what is known as .Soott 's mill, without iaaivin<? any (•onlVssion, imt with threat 
that if anything more was heard of any attempted robhcry of any kind by any 
member of the jiang everyone, inehiding himself, worild l)e swung np to the first 
oak tree. It is needless to say that he immediately left the {(nmtry and was 
never heard of again. 

William Stictcli. an old s«4tler. many years afterwards made a trip down the 
.Mississippi and tliere in one of the river eities, either New Orleans or Memphis, 
he met and reeognized .MeBroom who hail l)eeu so severely flogged on the banks of 
the Cedar river. MeHroom claimed that he had lived an honest life since remov- 
ing from the Cedar river and he begged Stretch not to say anything about it, at 
lea.st in his new home. Stretch agreed to this, but investigated to ascertain 
whether or not McBroom had told the facts, and fountl that lie was a respectable 
citizen, one of the leaders in that city, and had accumulated a fortiuie — between 
forty and fifty thousand dollars. 

Another meml)er of the gang, a cousin of the lirodie boys, and in many ways 
a bad fellow, was overtaken in Washington township, this county, while driving 
anil there shot l)y a band of what was known as "regidators" oi' nieml)ersof the 
"anti-horse thief a.ssociation.'" Seventeen bullets had penetrated his bod.v. Who 
had a hand in this act is n()t known, although the members are said to have be- 
longed to some of the first families of the county. When Wilson was caught he 
was jia.ssing through the coiuity with a t«ain of stolen hoi-ses which had been 
brought from the eastern part of the state. 

The trial of Switzer. who had been indicted for burglary in 1S40. was trans- 
fei'red on a change of venue from Linn to Cedar comity. It came up at the 
October term of the distrii't court, Joseph Williams presiding. George McCoy 
was sheriff and William Knott was his deputy. The following named persons. 
all well known settlers, sat on this .iury : C. Kline. William Jlorgan. Elias Epper- 
.son, Al)e Kiser. I'orter ilcKinstry, P. Wilkinson. J. S. Lewis. John Lewis. William 
Denny. W. H. Bolton. Peter Diltz. and Samuel (iilliland. 

Considerable excitement prevailed at this trial. Switzer was rei)reseiited by 
able counsel who put uj) a great defense. Mi-s. .McEllieny and other members of 
the family unmistakably identified Switzer a.s the person who had been there 
before to borrow the money and who was one of the leaders on the night of the 
robbery. Switzer tried to prove an alibi, and had a number of j)eople who swore 
that he had been at another place on the night of the rol)bery. It is said that the 
jury was out two days and two nights and during this deliberation Switzer tried 
to a()proaeh Knott by saying that he wanted help and that as soon as Knott found 
out the .jury had found him guilty he asked him to give him some sign by taking a 
handkerchief out of his pocket. What he would have attempted then is not 
known. Knott refu.sed. the .jury disagreed, eleven standing for conviction and 
one for acquittal. 

During the trial a large grey horse was hitched in front of the building u.sed 
as a court house, for what purpose no one evei- understood, nor did any one know 
who was the owner of the horse. Switzer had a number of friends who hung 
around the jury and around the court h<iuse during the trial. As the jury came 
out one of the .iuroi-s had a handkerchief i)rotrii(ling from the side pocket of his 
coat. Switzer recognized the signal. With the nimbleness and quickness of a 
bare back rider he jumped on to the horse and darted away like a cyclone. Know- 
ing the proposition Switzer made to Knott there seems to be some reason to be- 
lieve that this member of the jury had given Switzer the sign. WHien the jury 
reported they were unable to agree. Switzer's friends started out to find and 
convey to him the result, hut could not find him until the day following, when 
they found him concealed among some of the timber along Sugar creek. 



42 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Another warrant was issued for his arrest, but there was some delay in ser^nng 
this notice and in the meantime he made his escape. In 1852 William Knott was 
in California and there met Svvitzer at Carson river in Nevada territory and had 
a conversation with him. Switzer admitted that he had been in a verj- tight place 
when he was under arrest in Cedar county, and he asked Knott to convey his best 
wishes to the juror who had hung out in his favor. Mr. Knott ascertained that 
Switzer 's morals had not changed any on account of his removal. In 1874 Judge 
John Shane and his wife visited California, and upon inquiry at Vallejo ascer- 
tained that Switzer lived in that \icinity, and although a very dissolute and reck- 
less man and feared by all, he had accumulated a handsome fortunt. He also dis- 
covered that the sons were following in the footsteps of their father, and that one 
of them was under indictment for having killed a man. 

At the time of the Switzer arrest and trial for the Gilbert robbery a civil suit 
had also been brought against him for the recovery of the money and a judgment 
was obtained. Judge Shane consulted an attorney and tried to get a transcript 
of his judgment in order to collect the same, but for some reason the records could 
not he found and the judgment could not be transcripted. Switzer died in Cali- 
fornia in 1877. 

One of Switzer 's best friends and a hanger-on at the court, a desperado, sur- 
rounded by a number of fellows of the same type, was Christopher Burns. He 
carried revolvers and bowie knives and wore a gentleman 's cloak of the old style 
thrown loosely about his shoulders. The sheriff, his deputy, and a number of 
men surrounding them also carried arms, and in ca.se the jury had returned a 
verdict of "guilty" it was Bums's intention, no doubt, to rescue his friend and a 
bloody battle would have taken place. Burns left the country- immediately and 
was shot by a neighbor in a quarrel on the upper Missouri river in 1845. 

The whipping of ilcBroom, Case, and others, and the arrest of Switzer and his 
flight put a stop to these outrages, so from 1841 to 1855, while many suspicious 
persons still lived in the community, they were more guarded in their movements 
than before, and these desperate acts did not take place, although for many years 
after this a good horse was not always safe property to keep in the eounti*y. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT 
From History of Linn County, 1878 

It seems that the first store was located at Westport where there was a barter 
trade carried on with Indians. W. H. Jlerritt ran a store at Ivanhoe in 1838, 
which was located on the government road. John Henry seems Xo have operated 
the store at Westport, but whether he bought this from Wilbert Stone is uncertain. 
It is stated that William, or Wilbert, Stone, sold his store or had one at Westport 
about 1837 where he did some trading ^vith the Indians. He must have been 
there as early as 1837 because he sold out his interest to John Henry and removed 
further up to what became Cedar Rapids, and had been living there for some time 
when Robert Ellis found him on the west side of the river upon his arrival in 
May, 1838. 

None of the land at that time had been surveyed, so all the rights the people 
had were laiown as "squatter" rights, which they sold as any other land, and 
which would give them the privilege of filing on it when the land would get into 
the market. Much of this land was handled that way. The southeastern and 
eastern part of the county were first settled, and then settlements were made 
along the Cedar river, which would be natural for the reason that peeople had to 
use the river more or less in keeping in communication with other places. 

It would be impossible to give the names of all the early settlers for the rea- 
son that some only remained a short time and moved awaj' again and the names 



BEGINNINGS IN LINN COUNTY 43 

of these have been lost. A few only can be mentioned to give the reader an idea 
of where and how certiiiu towns were staked out and Imildings commenced. Tlie 
Linn county lands first came into the market in .March, 1843, and not till then, 
did the settlei-s come in any large numbers. All were anxious fo get free lands. 
The town sites were laid out as follows, though they were only squatter's rights: 
Westport in July, 1838, by Israel Mitchell; Columbus (Cedar Rapids), Septem- 
ber, 1838, by William [or Wilbertl Stone; Ivanhoe. October, 1838, by An.son 
Cowles; while the town site of Cedar Rapids was laid out by N. B. Brown and 
others Angust 4, 1841. The first plat, h(n\ever, recorded wii.s by the father of 
Elias Doty. This was recorded after the land had come into nmrket, when West- 
port was re-na'.ned Newark, and was filed November 12, 1844. 

The tide of civilization gradually flowed westward from the Missis,sippi river. 
The regular chain of progress is clearly shown, and forms a portion of the history 
of Linn county. Young men pushed bravely ahead, claiming rights to unsur- 
veycd lands, expecting in a short time a rise in values and liig money in their 
holdings. JFany of these men were single and never intended to make this, or 
any other community, their permanent home. All they wanted was to pick out 
the best claims, erect shacks, hold them down until men with families came, who 
had a little money and were willing to pay so as to get a home at once. Many 
of these young venturesome spirits frequently in six months or a .year would 
pick up from $500.00 to a couple of thousand for a claim, depending somewhat 
upon the improvements made. At times these squattei-s would erect fairly good 
log houses and stables, and dig a well or two, and would also put in a little garden 
stuff — • potatoes and the like — so as to keep the family partly, at least, over 
winter. Crops and all improvements would go with the bargain. Many of these 
men drifted farther westward and undoubtedly lived nearly all their lives on 
what might be Icnown as the border land of civilization. They preferred this kind 
of life, and whenever a community was settled up it lost all interest for the original 
pioneer; he wanted and preferred to live among fnmtier ruffians; would fight if 
he had to. and would always d(>fend himself against any intruder. These men 
enjoyed this kind of a life and thrived upon it, and all they cared for was a little 
money, good times, and the freedom they so much craved and which the frontier 
afforded. 

"While it is true that those who located in this county in the years 1837 and 
1838 came from the east, it is also certain that this section would not have been 
reached so early in this century had the lands immediately west of the Mississippi 
been unselccted. It was. and still is, the desire of genuine picmeers to find a spot 
bejond the confines of civilization, no matter how crude the outlying stations 
may be." 

The first settlement of whites in Iowa had been at Dubuque, where Dubuque 
and his followers worked the mines at that place. This at one time was a great 
center of attraction, but as the government restricted settlers from coming in, 
they were driven back until treaty arrangements were made with the Indians, 
who were the owners of the land upon which the mines were located. These 
men who first came as miners early saw the exceeding beauty and fertilit.v of the 
Iowa lands, and thus news was spread among the people of the east before the 
Iowa lands were thrown open for settlement. Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois were 
by this time f)retty nuich settleil up, and so was Missouri and nearly all the land 
adjoining the Ohio and Mississipjii rivers. Thus it was that as soon as the word 
came from the government that part of Iowa was thrown open to settlement 
adventurous men and brave women soon began to cross the Mississippi and to 
settle in various parts of what was then so well known as the Black Hawk land. 
There were no roads in those da.ys, not even trails, and consequently a person 
did not dare to venture out on the prairie, but he generally followed .some stream 
so that he could find his way back to the starting place, at least. 



$25 


.00 




.37% 


1 


.00 




.25 




.75 


1 


.00 




.75 




-Of; 



44 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Most of the people who came west to settle had no idea of where to locate or 
of the condition of the Iowa lands. They were bold. fearles.s, and determined, as 
well as resolute, and they pushed on until they found a locality which suited their 
fancy and here they pitched their tents and lived in their wagons until suitable 
log cabins were erected. 

Prior to 1829 there was not even a ferry established at any regular i)oiut on 
which to cross the river into Iowa; even the miner. Dubuque, when he wanted to 
re-cross to the Illinois side had to borrow an Indian canoe. The familiar Du Hois, 
who came early into Illinois in Joe Davies county, trading with the Indians, had 
no other means of crossing the river than in Indian canoes. By the latter part 
of 1829 one John Barrel was commissioned to maintain a ferry at Rock Island, 
which at that time was within the confines of Joe Davies county, which extended 
for miles and miles ahmg the river, like Dubuque county on the west side of the 
river. Col. George Davenport also obtained a permit to run a ferry from Daven- 
port across the river, the ferry charges being fixed by the commissioners so that 
there could be no hold-up. The following charges were made, which must have 
been pretty high for the iieoplc of small means in those days: 

Man and horse ...... 

Horses or cattle. j)er head, other than cattle yoke 
Road wagon ...... 

For each lior.se hitched to said wagon 

Each two-horse wagon ..... 

Each two-wheeled carriage or cart 

One-horse wagon ...... 

Each hvuidred weight of mdse.. etc. 

To avoid paying this ferrj* charge a great many of the settlers slarted early in 
the spring and would cross the river on the ice and thus .save this additional ex- 
pense. William Abbe and his family, and many others who settled in Linn coun- 
ty, at least those who were familiar with the ferry charges, crossed on the ice. 

George Davenjiort estal)li.shed a trading post as early as 1831 at the mouth 
of Rock creek, and another on the east side of Cedar river just above Rochester a 
short time later. Thus, gradually, there extended a .system of small stores in the 
bayous, creeks, and rivers where trading was carried on mainly with the Indians. 
The settlers who came generally followed these trails and would be helped and 
advised where to go and where to find the best roads, and also as to whether or 
not the Indians in the immediate vicinity of the stores were hostile or friendly. 

Block houses had also been erected near these frontier stores for protection 
in case of Indian outbreaks. 

Another trading point was tliat of Rockingham which was laid out as early as 
1835, and in the early forties considered one of the best villages in the territory. 
It was to this place the early settlers came up to 1841-42 to trade, as well as to 
Muscatine and Davenport. 

The settlers who came late during the summer of 1838-39 were unfortunate 
in case they were unable to get enough hay for their stock, for the winters were 
veiy cold and there were no provisions or food to be purchased, and many a fam- 
ily along the Cedar river in Linn and Cedar counties during these years endured 
some severe trials. Money was scarce, provisions of all kinds high, and no 
trading posts nearer than those at Davenport, ]\Iuscatine, and Rockingham. It 
is said that Robert Ellis and Philip Hull came to "William Alibe's on their way 
to Jluscatine to get provisions in the fall of 1838. William Abbe gave them .$15.00 
— ■ all the money he had — and with tears in his eyes told them to buy what they 
could, for that he did not know what would become of his wiie and cliildren when 
that was gone, for it was all the money he had in the world. They were absent 
about two weeks, and brought back as much provisions as they could buy with 






LINN COUNTY SCENES 



BEGINNINGS IN LINN COUNTY 45 

wlial iiioiK'V tlicy had. and liy liiiiitiiij; duriii!^ the wiutor they !,'ot ahinj^ and 
helped "William Al)t)e. In the forties William Al)l)e secured government contracts, 
and then lieeanie a well-to-do man. Robert Ellis was a partner with Abbe many 
times in supi)lying the outposts with |)rovisions. 

Many families during the latter thirties and the early fortiw exi)erienced some 
hard times in Iowa. To make the situation and surroundings still more difficult 
the creeks and sloughs between the settlements were treacherous f|uajrmires in 
which wagons going for or returning with provisions were sure to settle in up to 
the hubs, and when once in the mud there was no way to get them out except by 
unloading or by going to the nearest store for help, which would be many miles 
away. Sometimes the assistance of two or three additi(nial yoke of oxen was 
secured to pull out the wagon. 

The winters of 18l37-:}S-3!t and 4n liegan early, snow falling to the extent of a 
foot or two as early as the latter part of October, and it increased as the winter 
advanced. There was no thaw in January, and the settlers were completely shut 
in until about the middle of April. Then the snow all melted away and the 
streams were swollen so as to be impassable. Thus it was impossilile to get to any 
place for food or for provisions until way into the summer. Consequently the 
settlers experienced many hardships, and much of the stock died from sheer 
star%'ation. As early as possible in the spring- the settlei-s would unite and start 
oft" for Muscatine, Dubuque, or Rockingham for provisions, and on their return 
would help the needy settlers who had no opportunity to get away. Sometimes 
these .journeys were undertaken on foot, when two or three would start off with 
knapsacks to get the necessary foods and medicines, and would return as soon 
as possible. 

It is wonderful what the old settlers endured — how they walked a distance 
of 100 miles in less than two days. Robert Ellis walked from ^lichigan to Iowa ; 
he walked to Dubuque. Muscatine. Davenjiort. and Burlington many times, while 
it is said of William Abbe that he walked easily 60 miles a day without being very 
much exha\isted. Then, again, when roads were impassable for wheeled vehicles 
they would ride horseback. I(\Tdin.ir sometimes one horse to be used as a paek horse 
to bring back i)ri)visions. 

To .show with how much difficulty the early settlers toiled to get a foothold in 
Linn county, it might be well to state the story of the life of Edward M. Crow. 
who, as a young man. in 1S:J7 came into the county to a place near where is now 
located Viola. He was only 21 years of age. and came west from Chicago, having 
previously come from Indiana. lie stopped first in Illinois and having heard of 
Iowa, came here in search of cheap land. He was acccuupanied by Jauu^s Dawson 
and James Gillilan. the latter owning a team of horses. They constructed ferrv 
boats of their own on which to cross the river. The other two parties got tired 
and left. Crow later fouml Dawson in Illinois. They travelled over much of 
Iowa, back and forth, mostly on foot ; .sonu'times together, sometimes setting out 
in different directions alone. Finall.v, both Dawson and Crow united in Jones 
county, staking out a claim in Linn count.v in July. 1837. Returning to Fox 
river. Illinois, again in (piest of |)rovisi(ins. they did not conu> back to Linn county 
until in August of that .vear. when Ed and (larrison Crow and James Dawson 
began their settlement, erected a cabin and cut some ha.v for the winter. They 
were without fcxnl, and had to make another trip to the borders of civilization for 
provisions for the winter. The monotonous months of winter rolled by, Cro\y's 
party subsisting by hunting as best they could. 

A number of settlers came into Brown township during the early years, such 
as Jacol) Mann. David Mann, his brother. William P. Earle, Asa Farnsworth. and 
many others. John Crow, father of Ed Crow. John Lvnn. 0. Bennett. Charles 
Pickiu'y. Ben.j. Simmons. Solomon Peckham. and Alexander Rhotan were emi- 
grants who settled here in 1838. All those who came that year and have been 



46 HISTORY OF LIXN COUNTY 

definitely corroborated, or who were there as real settlers, were the folloH-ing: 
Samuel C. Stewart, Peter IMeRoberts. John Afiferty, William Abbe, Israel Mitchell. 
Will Gilbert, J. G. Cole, Hiram Thomas, Joseph Carraway, Jacob Leabo, John 
Henrj', J. Wilbert Stone. Osgood Shepherd, ^\ife, father and several children, 
Eobert Ellis, 0. S. Boiling. Mr. Ashmore. W. K. Farnsworth. Robert Osborn, 
Thomas Campbell, Perry Oxley, Will Vineyard, James Hunter, J. J. Gibson, 
Eobert Deem, ]\Iiehael Donahoo, William Chamberlain. Mr. Williams, Mr. Evans, 
J. B. Sargent. John Sargent. A. J. McKean. John Scott, H. W. Gray. S. H. Tryon, 
Anson Coles, Andrew Safely. Rev. Christian Troup, D. S. Hahn, Hiram Bales, 
Asher Edgerton, Peter Roland, John Stewart, J. E. Boyd, Philip Hull. John 
Young. Mr. Granger. L. H. Powell, John McCloud, Mr. Kemp, Listebarger broth- 
ers, and many others. 

The Hoosier Grove settlement was made in 1838. being in Putnam township; 
Isaac and Aimer Cox and John Holler, and several others, settled here that year. 

During the year 1839 Otter Creek was settled by Stevens, ^Michael Greene. 
Bart McGonigle. Henry Nelson. William Chamberlain, Dr. J. Cummings, Will 
Sullivan and Perry Oliphant. 

Dyer Usher and Joel Howard ferried people across the Mississippi near Mus- 
catine in the summer of 1839. These men died near Covington a few .vears ago. 
Usher always claimed that he was on the site of Cedar Rapids as early as 1836 
and located west of the river two .rears later. The young men could make no 
mone.v in a new country, and while they took claims they frequentl.y left for 
civilization to earn a little money. So it might have been that Usher was a 
bona fide resident of Linn county, while he could get no employment nearer 
than Muscatine. 

A number of persons settled early around Cedar Rapids in the timber a few 
miles from town. William Knowles located on what is known as Mound Farm 
in 1839 and gave this up to the Brodie famil.v, consisting of parents, five sons and 
three daughters. The names of the sons were Hugh, Jolm. William, Steven, and 
Jesse. Rev George R. Carroll speaks of the family as having an imsavory repu- 
tation. The family removed further north when some of them at least were ac- 
cused of being notorious horse thieves. 

Joel Leverich next became the owner of Mound Farm, a person who had 
somewhat of a history in the early days of politics in the county. In 1843-44 
this property was purchased by George Greene. 

A number of people lived along the trail between ]\Iarion and Cedar Rapids. 
Among those well knowii not alread.v mentioned may be named Ambrose Harlan. 
Dave Woodbridge, J. E. Bromwell. J. P. Glass. Rufus Lucore, John and Will 
Hunter, Thomas Hare, Will Willis, and many others. 

We quote the following from directories and gazeteers published years ago. 
These statements ma.v not be correct in some details, but the facts were obtained 
from some who were doubtless familiar with them. 

Thus Wolfe in his Cedar Rapids and Kingston directory of 1869 speaks of 
John Mann, of Pine Grove, as the first settler in LLnn county, he coming in 1838, 
and of the first marriage in the coimty as that of Sarah Haines to Richard Os- 
borne, in 1839, and the first death as that of ]\Irs. Haines, an elderly lady who 
died from an accident in July. 1838. 

He further speaks of the first store in Westport as that of Albert [should be 
John] Ilenrj' in 1838. It is thought that Stone also carried on some store or 
trade with the Indians before this. He speaks of the second store as being oper- 
ated by W. H. :Merritt in 1839. This should be 1838, as is seen from Merritt's 
letter to S. W. Durham, found in another portion of this volume. 

The first claim of land in Cedar Rapids was made by William Stone, in 1838, 
who built a cabin on the banks of the river on Commercial street, now First 
street. Is this the Shepherd cabin, and was this so-called first tavern erected 



BEGINNINGS IN LINN COUNTY 47 

and weiipied l)y Stone, who laU'r was compelled to vacate it and give up his 
claim? Mr. Wolfe also speaks of the first saw and grist mill built by Brown in 
1842, the second flour mill built by Alex Kly in 1845. and the first woolen factor}' 
erected by lirown in 184'). Mi.ss IjCgare built a saw mill in 1851. 

As late as 1800 Wolfe speaks of eight flour and saw mills being operated in 
and aroiuid Cedar Rapids. lie speaks further of two woolen factories and the 
steam bakery of I. II. Shaver & Co., and of the Fish paper mill, manufacturing 
300 tons of paper annually. The directory speaks of the American Express 
Company ha\nng an office here as early as 1859, with W. B. Mack as the first 
local agent. 

The editor also mentions that the learned professions were represented by ten 
clergymen, thirteen doctors, and about fifteen lawyers. 

He al.so mentions J. Bell's ."^tage line running daily between Iowa Cit.y, Solon, 
W'ostern, and Cedar Rapids, and also of a line to Vinton. 

The following as seen by a traveller may be of interest. It is from A Glitnpse 
of Iowa in 1846, by J. B. Newhall, Burlington, Iowa, W. D. Skillman, publisher, 
1846 : 

"Linn county has become proverbial for the excellence of its soil, its sal- 
ul)rity of climate, abundance and admirable adaption of woodlands to the wants 
and convenience of the settler. The prairies are remarkably fertile, and of mod- 
erate extent ; the timber eciually and amply apportioned, generally of full growth, 
consisting, principally, of red and white oak, black and white walnut, linn, sugar, 
maple, etc. Linn county is famous for its extensive sugar orchards, from some of 
which 500 to 1,000 weight have lieen annually made. It is well watered by the 
Red Cedar and its tributaries, affording abundance of mill power, much of which 
is already imi) roved. 

"Marion, the seat of justice, is located near the cent(!r of the county, about 
four miles cast of the Cedar, at the edge of a beautiful grove, on a gentle prairie 
roll. It contains several stores, a commodious hotel, postotfice, various mechan- 
ical establishments, and is a place of considerable importance." 

The modem traveler speaks of broad meadows, of rich corn fields, and of 
large manufacturing interests. This traveler of sixty-five years ago speaks of 
timber which luus disappeared and of maple sugar orchards which makes us 
wonder what they were like. 

From Baile.v & Hair's Iowa State Gazetteer, 1865. we gather these facts: 

"The county of Liun is so named in honor of a distinguished .senator of 
the United States, the Hon. Louis F. Linn, of Mis.souri. It is situated centrally 
in the eastern half of the state, and from fifty to sixty miles west of the Missis- 
sippi river. 

"It was defined by act of the Territorial Legislature of Wiscon.sin. at its' 
session of 1837 and '38; that Territory then including the whole of Iowa within 
its juri.sdiction. The county limits were the same as they now remain, consist- 
ing of twenty Ccmgressional to\\iishi[)s, containing an area of 720 square miles. 
It is bounded on the north by Buchanan and Delaware counties, east by Jones 
and Cedar, south by John.son and west by Benton. It is now divided into nine- 
teen civil townshijis. as follows: Bertram, lioulder. Brown Buft'alo, Clin- 
ton, College, Fairfax, Franklin, Fayette. Jackson. Linn. Marion. .Maine, Monroe, 
Otter Creek, Putnam. Rapids, Spring Grove, and Washington. 

"The county was duly organized by the Board of County Commissioners at 
their first .session held September 9th, 1839, at the farm house of Jlr. James W. 
Willis, one-half mile north of the present town of Marion. The board consisted 
of Samuel C. Stewart. President. Peter McRoberts. and Lumau M. Strong, Com- 
missioners; llosea W. Gray. Sheriff; and John C. Berrv, Clerk. 



48 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"This Board also approved the selection of the county seat, which they oi-dered 
to be called ]lIarion -. divided the county into election and road districts; and 
appointed .\ndrew J. McKean and William H. Smith. Constables. Of the ofifi- 
cers and persons above named, but two, Messrs. Gray and ilcKeau. remain resi- 
dents of the county, the latter being the present Clerk of the District Court. 

"The tirst white settler in this county was John :Manu. who erected his cabin 
on Upper Big Creek, in Linn Grove, in the month of February. A. D.. 1838. He 
was an emigrant from the moimtainous region of southwestern Pennsylvania. 
He was an honest, industrious, unlettered, rude sort of man. Subsequently he 
built a small flouring mill. A great flood in the spring of 1851 carried away his 
mill and himself together. The unfortunate man was drowned, and his body 
recovered onlv after several days had elapsed. The flood was unprecedented, and 
was thought to have been caused by a water spout. The Little Creek is said to 
have risen twentv feet in about as many minutes. 

"The next permanent settler was John Crow, a North Carolinian, who made 
his home near the east line of the county on the Wapsipinicon river, m April, 
1838 He was a very gentlemanlv person, of more than ordinar>- intelligence, 
wealth and enterprise. He died "about five years afterwards, much respected. 
His son. Edward Crow. Esq.. now a member of the Board of Supervisors of this 
Countv and other descendants remain. During the summer of 1838 the set- 
tlements graduallv extended in the east part of the coiuity. The only persons 
now recollected, of that earlv period, as remaining, are John Gibson, of Jlount 
Vernon and Andrew J. .McKean. and Hosea W. Gray, of :\rarion. Ihe first 
familv west of Big Creek was that of Jacob Leabo. from Kentucky, lie hi-st 
west of Indian Creek was that of James W. Bassett. from Vermont. The first 
Justice of the Peace was John :\Ic Atferty. commissioned in 1838. 1 he fii-st J udge 
of Probate was Israel :Mitchell. a Tennesseean, now residing in Oregon. Ihe 
first Sheritt' was Hosea W. Grav. The first Clerk of the District Court was 
Joseph Williams, a Peiinsylvanian : now said to be in the military service at 
Memphis, Tennes,see. 
■ "The first officiating minister was the Rev. Christian Troup, a German Luth- 
eran who preached regularlv in his own cabin near the mouth of Spring Creek 
every Sundav during the lat^ter part of the summer of 1838. The first marriage 
was 'that of Richard Osboni and Sarah Haines, in the spring of 1839. The first 
birth was that of a daughter of Mrs. Samuel McCartney, in July, 1838. The 
first death was that of :\Irs. Haines, an invalid elderly lady, who died from the 
ettects of an accidental fall in Julv. 1838. The second was that of James Logan, 
an Irishman, who was killed by the caving in of a well which he was excavating 
in Marion, July, 1840. 

"The first selected town site was called Westport. of which Israel Mitchell was 
proprietor. It was near the present site of the village of Bertram, and was 
selected in Julv, 1838. This was afterwards abandoned. The next in order of 
time, was called Columbus, built by William Stone, in September. 1838. He 
abandoned his town the next spring, there being only a single log cabm. The 
site was that occupied l)v the present city of Cedar Rapids. The next was Ivan- 
hoe, by Anson Cowles, in October. 1838. since vacated. The fourth was IMarion, 
the present county seat, in April, 1839. 

"The first election was held at Westport in October, 1838, that being the only 
poll opened for the county. The only candidates were for members of the 
Assembly ; thirty-two votes were cast. The first member of the General Assembly 
elected from this county was the Hon. George Greene, member of the Legislative 
Council, elected in 1840. The firs1 store opened was at Westport. by Albert 
[John] Ilenrv. in the fall of 1838 The second at Ivanhoe. in the spring of 
1839. by Col. William H. ilerritt. 




TROM CARROL^ S F,w:.i.i SvR. 

GUING SHOPPING IN IHE EARLY DAYS 





INDIAN BOYS 



INDIAN TEPEE 





LATER INDIAN HOUSE 



INDIAN GRAVE 



BEGINXIN(JS IX 1,1 XX COUNTY 49 

"The fii-st eelcbration was ou tin- 4tli ol July. 1839. at Westport, Judge 
^[itchell, Orator. There was a dinner, toasts, and a ball, whereof William H. 
Smith, Andrew J. McKean and II. W. Gray, were managers. 

"The fifth decennial census of the I'nited States was taken in 1840. in this 
county. l)y H. W. (iray. Deputy .Marshal. The population was 1.H42. The 
intlnx of settlers for the next three yeai-s was (juite rapid, during which time the 
population reached probably three thousand. The largest proportion of the emi- 
gration was of Southern origin. The early settlers were plain, honest, hospitable 
people, not much accustomed to legal restraints, and rather impatient of the slow 
process and technicalities of tlie law. As usiud. in all new countries, they were 
annoyed by vagabonds, who tloeked into the settieuienls. calculating on impunity 
fn their depredations, on account of the inefliciency of the (xilice regulations. A 
rude .justice was not unfre(iucnflv meted <uit to offenders without reeoui^se to 
legal forms, or the intervention of courts. 

"In common with all frontier settlements, the fir.st settlers here were poor; 
they were obliged to transport their produce in wagons mostly, to the Jli.ssissippi 
River, at points sixty or seventy miles distant. When reached at such disad- 
vantage the markets were very low. consequently the accretions of wealth were 
slow, and were mainly invested in the homestead of the farmer. The discovery 
of gold in California with the resulting emigration, opened a gcKid market for the 
farmers at home. Afterwards, eastern emigration with the building of railroads, 
connecting the people with eastern markets, greatly accelerated the prosperity 
of this county as well as all other parts of the we.st. The financial crisis of 1857 
interposed a check to tliis onward career of prosperity. It was but temporary, 
however, and the people had fully regained their former standing when the 
rebellion commenced. 

" It is felt that a county which contributed one general, and fifteen field officei-s, 
with more than two thovisand volunteers in defense of the Union, without draft 
or conscription, and without .seriously les.sening its productive energies, has an 
assured basis of future greatness and pro.sperity. A basis which nothing short 
of the entire ui)heaval and destruction of the foiindations of human society 
shall be able to distiu-b. " 

In Guide, Gazetteer and Directory of the Dubuque <f- Sioux City Railroad, 
Dubuque, Bailey t£- Wolfe. 1868, we read of Cedar Rapids : 

"The first settlement here was made in the year 1838 by William Stone, who 
erected a log cabin on the bank of the river in the i-ear of No. 1 North Commercial 
street. The same year Osgood Shepherd, a supposed leader of a band of outlaws, 
.iumped S*one's claim and took possession of the cabin, and held it until the year 
1841, when he .sold thret>-fourths of his interest to N. B. Brown and George 
Greene, H. W. Gray. A. L. Roach, and S. H. Tr>'on. for the sum of $3,000. 

"In 1842 he sold the remainder and soon after disappeared from the country. 
N. B. Brown came here in 1840, when Jlr. Browni and Judge George Greene 
became pro])rietors of the water power. 

"In 1841 the town was laid out and named from the rapids in the river. 
The first frame dwelling was erected by John Vardy and is still standing at 62 
Brown street, comer of South Adams. The building known as the Old Post- 
office Building. North Washington street, was built for a store by N. B. Brown, 
the same year. P. W. Earle's residence. 29 Iowa Avenue, was the first brick 
building, and was erected by Mr. Earle in 1849. Wm. Dwyer built the first 
hotel in 1847. This was destroyed by fire in January. 1865. 

"The work of constructing a dam across the river, was commenced by N. B. 
Brown, July 4th. 1842, though much of the material had been prepared prior to 
that date. Mr. Brown commenced the erection of a saw mill, and also of a grist 



50 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

mill the same year, and both were completed the year following. A second saw 
mill was built in 1851. 

"The second flouring mill was built by Alexander Ely in 184-4-5. The first 
woolen factor^' was also built by N. B. Brown in 1847. In 1855 a city charter 
was obtained, and at the first charter election, Isaac N. Whittam was elected 
Mayor. Railroad communication with the Mississippi was opened in 1859, from 
which time the growth of the city in wealth and population has been rapid and 
constant. 

"A superior water power has attracted a large interest in manufactures of 
various kinds. As early as 1840 one of the first settlers determined to apply his 
energies to the improvement of the water power, and soon after a dam was thrown 
across the river, a saw mill built, and other improvements followed, till now 
there are located here five flouring and custom mills, one saw mill, one paper mill, 
two woolen mills, and one fanning mill and separator manufactory." 



CHAPTER VIT 

JVilliam Abbe, the First Settler in the County 

William Abbe, we believe, was the first white settler to locate a claim within 
the boundaries of Linn coiuity. lie came as early as the summer of 183(), from 
near Elyria, Lorain county, Ohio, seeking a location, coming via Kock Lsland. 
He followed the Red Cedar river as far as the present site of iMount Vernon, 
where he staked out a claim adjoining a little creek, which to this day goes by the 
name of "Abbe's Creek." lie returned to his home in Ohio and in the winter 
of 1837 he again crossed the Mississippi with his family on the ice as early as 
Februarj- of that year, according to his daughter's statement, and in April reached 
the location he had selected the previous year on Abbe 's creek. Here he erected 
one of the first cabins in the county, being about 12x14 feet square, and covered 
with birch bark, having no Hoor. In this little cabin the family lived all summer. 
In the fall he erected a large double log house with three large rooms and an 
upstairs which was reached by a ladder from within. On this creek the family 
lived for five years where Mr. Abbe o\\^led four himdred acres. He disposed of 
this farm and ri^novcd a short distance south of Marion where he purchased an- 
other farm where he lived till he removed to ]\Iarion. 

William Abbe was bom in Connecticut April 19, 1800, being of English des- 
cent. When a yoiuig boy he removed to the state of New York. He was married 
to Olive Greene in 1824 and by her had four children: Lucy, Lois, Andrew, and 
Susan. Lois Abbe died young, Lucy Abbe died many years ago, Andrew Abbe 
pasfsed away at San Juan, California, in 1902, and Susan Abbe-Shields now resides 
at Hollister, California. 

William Abbe brought his wife and children to Linn county in 1837 ; his wife 
died in 1830 and was buried in a cemetery located near the farm on which he 
settled, about two miles northwest of Mount Vernon. He married a .second time 
on September 13, 1840. his wife being Mary Wolcott, also from Ohio, and by her 
he had two sons, bom at Marion : Augustus Wolcott Abbe and William Alden 
Abbe. William Alden Abbe died several years ago; his widow and one child, a 
daughter, reside in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Augustus Wolcott Abbe, an old sol- 
dier, resides in Toledo, Iowa, and has a family of eight children. 

Mrs. Susan Shields was born in 1830 and was about seven years of age when 
she came to Liiui county. She was married to John Harman March 16, 1848, who 
died shortly afterwards, and .she later married John Shields, a resident of Vinton, 
Iowa. In an interesting letter on early Linn county days she writes as follows: 

"There were no white people for a long time after we landed in Linn county; 
when they did come my mother used to let them come and stay tliere until they 
would find a place to suit them ; it was always a free home for the immigrants. 
When we first went there I was but a child seven years old. The men I remember 
most were Robert Ellis, one of our first acquaintances, and Asher Edgerton. the 
former being with us a long time when the countrj- was new. Of course we had 
men come in, such as horse thieves and my father had some of them chained up 
in one of our roouLS for safe kivping until they could l)e tried, as there was no 
.jail for some time in Linn county. 

"I went with my father to Marion, a little place then with one or two houses 
and a jail. We carried an iron trap door for the jail; it was in two rooms, one 



52 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

upstairs and ono downstairs. There were two men in the dungeon at the time; 
we took tl)e door for this jail. My father was a justice of the peace for awhile ; he 
was also a member of the state legislature when the capital was located at Iowa 
City. Later father sold our place on Abbe's Creek and purchased another on the 
old Clarion road, of about three hundred acres, further north; there was a lovely 
creek, a grove of maple trees was on one side and a boundless prairie on the other 
side. The Indians used to come in the spring of the year to camp and make 
sugar; I have seen as many as five or six hundred at a time camped near our 
house in the timber ; they always made it a camping groimd at our place and they 
seemed to be verj- fond of my father, who was kind to them and who spoke and 
underetood the Winnebago language. 

"I remember well the first time I went to Cedar Rapids with my father; this 
was in the early '40s ; there were five hundred "Winnebago Indians "camped there 
at the time. I had played with the Indians so much that I could talk the Indian 
language as well as themselves, so they had me to talk for them. There were only 
one or two white settlers there at the time. By the way, I was the first school 
teacher they had in Cedar Rapids ; I think it was about in 1846 ; I still have the 
certificate issued to me by Alexander Ely, who was superintendent at the time. 
After residing on this place a short time my father disposed of his farm and 
removed to :Marion ; he also lived for some time at Dubuque where he held a 
government position in the Land Office, I think. The breaking out of the gold 
fever in 1849 caused him to get excited and he left for California, leaving the 
family at JIarion. 

"My father was a bom pioneer; although bom in Connecticut he went to 
New York when the country was new. and then to Ohio, and later came to Iowa. 
In California he never mined gold, but teamed and speculated; he was there 
about two years, returning to Iowa in 1851, remaining in Iowa only a short time 
when he returned to California with his son, Andrew. My father died in Sacra- 
mento, California, February 15, 1854. when about to go to Iowa to bring his fam- 
ily to California, and he is buried in Sacramento." 

This interesting letter from a real Linn county pioneer more than .seventy 
years of age gives only an idea of the hardships of pioneer life, and what this 
woman has endured as a daughter and wife of the first .settlers. 

William Abbe's widow, Mary Wolcott, continued to reside in I\Iarion with her 
family until August 27. 1861, when she died, universally respected by all who 
knew her. 

;Mr. Abbe was an old time democrat and as such was in the state senate session, 
having the honor to appoint Robert Ellis po.stmaster of the senate, as a reward of 
friendship and good will. Mr. Abbe also was a justice of the peace for some 
time, was appointed commissioner to locate state roads, had the contract for the 
erection of the fii-st jail at Marion, and w-as otherwise a very useful citizen. He 
was also master of the first Masonic lodge at ^Marion, and one of the best known 
and best educated men in Linn county up to the time of his removal to California. 
For a number of years ]\Ir. Abbe was the only person in the county having 
ready money, loaning the same to his friends for the purchase of their claims. 
He held government contracts for the delivery of meat and provisions to the 
Winnebago agency at Fort Atkinson and to the troops at Prairie du Chien, 
Wisconsin, and at other places, and thus was acquainted with many of the 
militarj' officers in the Black Hawk war and with the Indian chiefs and braves 
of the Winnebago tribe, as well as the Sac and Fox Indians. It is said that 
William Abbe conversed freely with the Winnebago Indians, and frequently acted 
as an interpreter when matters of importance came up between members of the 
tribe and the white settlers; he was always a friend and protector of the Indians 



WILLIAM ABBE, B^IRST SETTLER IX LINN COUNTY 53 

and frequently helped them in securing their just rights when they had been 
rohl)ed bj- the white free-booters, himtcrs and trappers. 

William Abbe was a kind and generous man. and his home was always open to 
the pwple who eame into Linn eoimty at an early day to seek homes. It is 
also said that Mrs. Abl)e was an e.xcellent eook and many of the old surveyors 
would ride several miles out of their way t*> get a meal at the Abbe homestead, 
for the lateh string of the Abbe home was always out. 

Mr. Abi)e rode horseback a great deal and would be gone for weeks at a time, 
and while he was away the family lived quietly at home awaiting for days for 
his return when pro\isions were fre(iuently scarce and when the snow drifts 
generally were large. During the first two sea.sons there were very few crops 
grown, and consequently the father was kept bu.sy earning a livelihood, the family 
subsisting mostly on the cha.se. He traded jjrovisions with the Indians, at times 
bringing home large quantities of honey which was used as .sugar in sweetening 
black coffee as well as in place of butter on the hard johnny cake. 

Ilis son, Augustus Abbe, born on Abbe's creek in 1841, later a member of 
the 9th Iowa Infantry, now a retired fanner residing at Toledo. Iowa, tells the 
following of his father's life and history : 

"There was not a time in my life when I do not remember the Indian children. 
I played with them constantly. Tho.se were my only playmates in the early days. 
I learned a little of the Winnebago language, and got along verj- well. My half 
sister, Susan, spoke it fluently, as well as my father. I remember when I was 
about five or six years old a number of Indians were gathered in our house and 
I climbed a post, sitting on the same to watch the redskins race their horses. 
One of the chiefs, one that had the most gaudy clothing on, rode by verj- fast 
and picked me off the post and put me in front on his saddle, going at full gallop ; 
he rode a K)ng ways down through the prairie and my mother expressed much 
anxiety. Imt my father came out and stood there and wat^ched for me to return. 
After awhile the Indian came back and put me safely down in front of the house, 
to my mother's joy — I, all the time laughing, thinking that I had had a good 
time. The Indian said to my father, 'papoose no 'fraid.' That pony ride I 
shall remember as long as I live. 

"I also remember my father going away for two or three weeks at a time, and 
my mother fixing up his lunch for the jouniey. He had a pair of saddle bags 
filled with papers and other articles I still remember when he put on nuwcasins, 
overshoes, and a buffalo overcoat of some kind : he would bundle up .securely, kiss 
us good-bye and start off acros.s the prairie at full speed. Many a time I cried, 
as I wanted to go along, but on these long jimrneys I was refu.sed this pleasure 
for my father would not neglect business even for the sake of pleasin.i: his son 
whom he loved dearly. 

"I also remember Robert Ellis, the Ashertons. Willitts. Clarks. and many 
others who came to our house and talked wny into the night about trips they 
had taken over the wide prairies of Iowa. Our cabin was full of people most of 
the time; they would come in late in the night and in the morning, much to my 
sui'prise. I would find a number of people at breakfa.st, I not knowing when they 
eame during the night. I never knew or heard of my mother making any charge 
for keeping anyone over night, whether they were strangers or acquaintances, 
whether they were i)oor or rich made no difference ; whatever she had she would 
divide with a traveller or other stranger who eame to her hospitable home. 

"I do not know that my mother understood much of the Indian language, 
but she was kii'd to them and the s(|uaws used to sit on our door steps more than 
onee. She gave them food that she had prepared, sweetened with honey which 
thev liked verv nuich. 



54 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

' ' I remember going to ilarion with ray father many times when it was a very 
small village with a jail which my father always pointed out as having built. 
He also taught me that I must do right or else I might have to stay in that jail 
or some other jail if I did not. These lessons were certainly deeply impressed on 
me for life. I remember, also, when we removed from Marion to Dubuque. I 
think that was in 18-47, and we remained there for some time, but I think less 
than a year, when we removed back to JIarion. My father held a government 
position there in the land office, I think. 

"My two uncles, Charles and Eliezar Abbe, resided in Ohio, one later removing 
to Michigan. The latter visited my father frequently. He was related, also, on 
his wfe's side, to Ed Clark, an early settler in Linn county. These men were 
much taken up with the country and we had hoped that they would come here to 
locate, but they did not. 

' ' I also, with my father, visited Cedar Rapids many times, and I do not believe 
I was more than five or six years of age, hardly that, when I first saw Cedar 
Rapids, where I was much interested in the dam and the mills. The town then 
consisted of a few log houses along the east bank of the river. The remainder of 
the town was a mass of sand burrs, weeds, and timber, and along Cedar Lake 
and along the river large numbers of Indians were camped, especially up along 
the Cedar Lake and along what is now known as McCloud's Springs. In this 
locality several himdred Indians would camp in the winter and spring of the year, 
trapping, hunting, and trading skins with the whites for red clothing, guns, and 
ammunition. They would hang around the flour mills during the daj' time where 
there were always a lot of people gathered. 

"My mother was a member of the Lutheran church, which church she now and 
then attended, but there were not many churches in that day. My father was not 
a church member. 

"I remember my sister, Susan, teaching one of the first schools in Cedar 
Rapids, much to the satisfaction of the members of our family. In polities my 
father was a stanch democrat and an admirer of Andrew Jackson. He also 
became acquainted with most of the officers who remainel in the west after the 
close of the Black Hawk war, on account of his government employment in which 
he was engaged. He was also personally acquainted with the persons who had 
charge of the Winnebago school, as well as those in charge of Fort Atkinson. 
Nearly all the people who rode horseback from Iowa City to Dubuque came by way 
of Mount Vernon, and would generally stop over night at our home. I remember 
my father and the strangers talking over polities until way into the night, and still 
remember many of these discussions as to the future of Iowa and as to the politi- 
cal aspirations of the various parties. My father took a lively interest in 
politics, as well as in the development of the west, and when it was settled up he 
had a longing for starting another pioneer settlement. He used to say when the 
land was pretty much taken that it was too close, he had to get away, as he wanted 
more room. By training and environment he was a true pioneer and full of en- 
thusiasm for the upbuilding of a pioneer coimtry. 

"When he was away in California we were much interested in his letters and 
we all wanted to go. When our father returned we asked liim all sorts of ques- 
tions about the gold camps of the west, and what he had experienced, and we spent 
whole evenings listening to his conversations. He did not take us at that time, 
but wanted to seek out an ideal location and get settled before he took us out there. 
But the day never came, and we never saw him again when he left on his second 
trip to California in 1852. All that we knew was that my mother received a 
letter from a Masonic order in Sacramento that the order had taken oai-e of him 
in his sickness and had seen that he received a suitable burial. He was sick only 
a short time and none of his old friends was with him when he died. Robert 
Ellis came to Sacramento looking for his old neighbor and heard to his sorrow that 



WILLIAM ABBE, FIRST SETTLER IN LINN COUNTY 55 

his friend had died ouly a week before. He came into Sacramento from the camps 
on the American river. 

"After my father's death tny mother resided in Clarion with her family 
where she died August 27, 1861, at the age of fifty-eight years. As I felt dowii- 
hearted at tlie time I joined the army and went to the front. November 29, 
1865, I was joined in marriage Xt> Cynthia Walker, daughter of an old Linn 
comity pioneer. 

' ' My father was also sheriff of Linn county. However, of this there does not 
seem to be any record, as I have been informed. He may have been appointed 
sheriff to fill a vacancy, or he may have been a deputy, I am not certain about that, 
but I know he was acting, at least, in the capacity of sheriff and caused the arrest 
of a uunil)er of horse thieves and otber alleged criminals. ^My father was over six 
feet tall, straight a.s an arrow, rather slender, but very aetive. and 1 never saw a 
horse that he could not mount and ride at any time without the least effort. 

"We used cattle for plowing, but generally kept also several horses, but these 
were used to drive and ride and not to work very much. 

"I believe that among the early settlers of the '30s and '408 my father had 
the good will of all law-abiding citizens. He was affable to strangers and true 
as steel to his friends, and was universally respected." 

William Abbe will be remembered a.s one of the most prominent of his day and 
generation in Linn county, for his kindness, his uprightness, his never wavering 
from the path of right. Whether amid the influences of tlie home circle or sur- 
rounded by the temptations of the mining camp, he was always the same sturdy, 
upright citizen, wanting to do right and helping his fellow men who were more 
unfortunate than himself. 

One of his old and true friends, speaking of his long deceased friend, expressed 
words of deepest feeling which can be only expressed in the well known stanzas : 

"Green be the turf above thee, 

Friend of my better days, 
None knew thee but to love thee, 

None named thee but to praise. ' ' 

While a great many are now of the opinion that William Abbe was the first 
actual settler within the confines of Linn county, a niunber are still of the opinion 
that Daniel Seward Hahn was the first settler. He came here, accompanied by his 
wife, Parmelia Epperson Hahn. John J. Daniels, an old settler in Linn coimty, 
and a son of Jeremiah Daniels, who came to Linn county in 18-14. was pretty good 
authority on the subject of the early settlers. In a number of conversations had 
with him on this subject and from what he wrote for the Annals of Iowa. Vol. VI, 
p. 581, and for the Iowa Aflas. 1907, it is gathered that he was of the opinion 
that Daniel Hahn was the first actual settler, at least the members of the Hahn 
family, of wlu)m there are a number still living in Linn and adjoining counties, 
claim that their ancestor, Daniel Hahn. should be awarded the honor. In the 
Annals of Iowa Jlr. Daniels has the following: 

"Daniel Hahn and his brother-in-law, Charles ^loberly, came to Linn county 
in the spring of 1837. made a claim and built a cabin upon it, did some breaking, 
and in August removed with wife and five children from Mercer county, Illinois. 
At this time there wa.s no house in Linn county to his knowledge." 

This, ^Ir. Daniels says, was the statement made to him and others in the life- 
time of Daniel Hahn. 

This may be true, that in the early day verj- little, if any, social intercourse 
was had among the early settlers and no one paid any attention to time or place, 



5C) HISTORY OF LINX COUNTY 

and it might be that Mr. Abbe, Mr. Hahn, and Mr. Crow might have settled at 
the same time, one never having knowii that the others had located here. 
Quoting from Mr. Daniels's articles, the following might be stated: 

"Edward ^l. Crow came to the count}' in July. 1837. in company with his 
brother, locating near Viola where they made a claim and erected a shanty ; they 
remained there only a few days, returning to Fox river to obtain provisions, hav- 
ing decided to locate in the county. In the latter part of August Edward Crow 
and his brother and James Dawson began to work on their new possessions ; about 
this time there came also two other pioneers by the name of Joshni and Russell ; 
they remained in the crude cabin during the winter and their time was spent 
mostly in hunting, tanning pelts and trading with the Indians. Their cabin was 
erected at the edge of what was kno\ni as the ' Big Woods ' in Brown township. ' ' 

Thus it would seem that William Al)be in point of time was the first actual 
white settler to locate a claim and lator to .settle on this claim with his family, 
within the confines of Linn county. True, hunters and trappers may have been 
here earlier, but no actual bona fide settler, as far as we have been able to ascertain. 
The testimony of Mrs. Susan Shields, a daughter still living, would seem to 
suffice as to the time when the great river was crossed and as to the time the 
family came to Linn county. 




HON. SAMUEL VV. DURHAM 
Honored Pioneer 



CHAPTER VIII 

The County Seat Contests - First Railroad in the County 

The county seat of Linn county was established at Marion liy a l)oai'd of com- 
missioners eonsistinfr of Lyman Dillon. Hen Nye. and Richard Knott. As the years 
rolled by the ((iiestion aro.se a.s to the removal of the county seat to Cedar Rapids, 
where it seems that it was needed, being what was then known as the commercial 
metropolis of the county. The people of Marion insisted that that city was the 
center. While there wa.s more or less feeling in the c(niuty over the county seat 
fight, the legislature of Iowa in 1850-51 created the office of county .judge. whi(!h 
was designed to and did succeed the former legislative bodies of the several 
coiuities of the state. The .iudge had the same powers possessed by the board of 
supervisors which controlled the affairs of the county later. Among the rights 
and privileges peculiar to the office was that most important one of submitting 
to the people the ((uestion of raising money for the purpose of repairing and erect- 
ing buildings for the use of the county officers. (See Code of 1851.) 

In 1855 James il. Berrj- was county .judge, and a shrewd fellow he was. In 
pursuance of the law, and what he thought his duty. Judge Berry took steps to 
erect a .jail and a fire-proof building for the use of the county officers. These 
buildings were contracted for by a firm at Mt. Venion, Ohio, in the spring of that 
year. Then the people arose in arms as to the high-handed methods of Judge 
Berry. Political questions were lost sight of in the court hcmse struggle. Speakers 
were employed pi"o and con. Judge Berry's term of office expired Januarj' 1. 
1856, and a successor was to be elected in August of 1855. Marion put up Judgi- 
Berrj- for re-election, while Cedar Rapids put up Rev. Elias Skinner, a well 
known Methodist preacher who had traveled about the county and who was well 
kno\^^l by everyone as an aggressive figliter and a man who believed in what he 
did and would have things his way if i)ossible. The canvass was in the aggregate 
with Judge Berrj- at 1.233 votes, while Skinner showed up with !)93 votes, the 
.judge being re-elected by a majority of 240 votes, thereby affirming by a refer- 
endum vote his policy. 

Reverend Skinner is still living at Waterloo, and not long ago the writer had a 
conversation with him about this the most famous fight that has ever occurred in 
Linn county over the removal of the court house. Mr. Skinner .just laughed and 
said he put up a good fight, but the other fellow had the votes. 

In 1871 another court house fight wius had. but the board held that because 
of many names of voters being on both petitions these petitions were defe<'tive. 

In the spring of 1872 another petition was brought out for the re-location of 
the court house and an endless number of names were again filed pro and con. 
iluch money was spent on both sides; again the Cedar Rapids faction was beaten, 
some preliminary step: were taken for an appeal but the appeal was stricken from 
the docket. 

Another attem))t was made by Cedar Rapids for a change of location of the 
court house a few years ago. and again the petitionei-s lost out. and that ca.se has 
been pending on the court dtx^ket but no a<»tion has been taken, so that it has for 
the fourth time been lost, much to the surprise of the citizens of Cedar Rapids 
and to the .satisfacti(m of the people of Marion and a large portion of the northern 
part of the county who have always .stood out for .Marion in the fights on the 
j*e-location of the countv .seat. 



58 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

THE FIRST RAILROAD LX LINN COUNTY 

While it may have been charged at times that Iowa was slow in getting in 
touch with railway builders, it must be borne in mind that the first railroad to be 
built in the United States upon which a steam engine was used was constructed in 
1829; but vei-y little was done until about 1833-34. By 1835 there were not over 
100 miles of road in active operation within the confines of the entire coimtry. 
Up to 1841 not a mile of track had been laid in any of the following states : 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, lliehigan. By the end of 1848 there were only twenty-two 
miles of tracks laid in Illinois, eighty-six in Indiana, and none in Wisconsin or 
Missouri. 

Traffic so far had been exclusively by river, lake, canal, or in wagons. Much 
money had been expended in opening up rivers for steamboat traffic and more or 
less had been voted to build roads and dig canals. But over such a large stretch 
of country it was impossible for the nation to do much. 

As early as 1837 many citizens of Iowa and others began to agitate for a trans- 
continental line of railroad to nm from the Atlantic states to the Pacific, and for 
a grant of land by congTcss for this purpose. Asa Whitney, of New York, an 
able and public spirited man, had written much in the papers proposing such a 
project. There was of course at that time more or less speculation as to just where 
such proposed railroad might pass. The southern senators proposed a road 
through St. Louis and across Missouri to Kansas. There was a spirit of rivalry 
at this time. When Chicago began to get its growth the far-sighted people of 
that city saw that it would be in the interests of Chicago to have the line go 
directly west and through Iowa, and thus cut out a dangerous rival. 

The Chicago press henceforth always favored a direct route through Iowa. As 
early as 1838 G. W. Jones, then delegate in congress from Wisconsin, secured an 
appropriation of $10,000, which was expended in making a survey from Lake 
Michigan through southern Wisconsin. 

Now the people of Iowa became active. They wanted a railroad from the 
lakes west, and this could only be secured by public or state aid. The legislature 
of 1844 joined in a petition to congress asking a grant of public laud to the Terri- 
tory of Iowa to aid in the construction of a railroad from Dubuque to Keokuk. 
The grant was to consist of alternate sections extending five miles in width on 
each of the proposed roads or its equivalent in adjacent government lands. 

During the winter of 1844-45 a convention was held at Iowa City where nearly 
all the coimties of the territory were represented by wide-awake young men in 
the interest of this railway promotion. Several proposed lines were agitated and 
as some of these lines did not start at any place and went to no place many of 
these projects failed. 

The first grant of public lands in Iowa for transportation was not for railroads 
but for improving navigation on the Des Moines river. It was made in 1846. 
Strong then was the prejudice against railway promotion, and little faith did the 
public men in congress put in this so-called wild speculation. 

The people of Iowa were so enthusiastic in the way of railway building and in 
the promotion of enterprises that they even ignored old political standards. It 
would appear that when the subject of the training of the candidates was looked 
into it, it depended more on what use such person would be for the work of getting 
a railway grant than how he would vote on the tariff or on the rights of South 
Carolina. 

The following letter, written May 28, 1848, by W. H. Merritt to S. W. Dur- 
ham, an old friend and fellow democrat, shows plainly the attitude of one of the 
leading men of the party, then living at Dubutiue. but who had formerly resided 
at Ivanhoe and hence was one of the early men in Linn county. He mentions 
Preston (Colonel Isaac Preston), and gives his reasons for not wanting him. The 



FIRST RAILROAD IN THE COUNTY 59 

Leffing\vell mentioned was the well-known W. E. Leffingwell, who formerly resided 
at Muscatine, then Bl(K)nHnfrt(>n. and later n'lnoved to Clinton county. He was an 
eloquent lawyer and a popular man. lie wa.s later defeated by William Smyth 
for congress in this di.strict. Bat<>s and Folsom were both prominent Iowa City 
men, and well known in political circles for many years. Judare Grant was the 
noted jurist of Davenport, and was a well-known railroad promoter who had much 
influence in early years in Iowa. 

In this letter Mr. Merritt suggests George Greene as a candidate from Linn 
county. There is no doubt that if at this time Mr. Greene had been selected, he 
would have carried the district and made an enviable record as a statesman, and 
no doubt on account of his judgment and his keenness in business, he woidd have 
obtained from congress such favoi-s as would have amounted to much good for Iowa 
in the first stages of her statehood. The letter does not show whether or not i\Ir. 
Greene had consented or would consent to such a couree, although it has been 
stated that he most likely would have con.sented to have made the canvass. For 
congress the whigs nominated this year, 1848, D. F. Jliller for the first district 
and Tim Davis for the second district. The democrats nominated for the first 
district William Thompson, and for the second district Shepherd Leffler. The 
whigs were strong, the total vote for president at the November elections being, 
Cas.s, democrat. 12.093; Taylor, whig, 11,144; Van Buren, free .soiler, 1,126. 

Letfler was elected, and Miller on a close vote contested the election of Thomp- 
son before congress. The committee on elections declared the seat vacant. 
Lefi'ler, who was elected after an exciting canvass, was a native of Pennsylvania, 
who came to Iowa Territory in 1835. He sat in the first constitutional conven- 
tion in 1844, and two years later was elected to congress by the state at large, and 
hence in 1848 he had the inside track. In 1856 he was again a candidate but was 
defeated by Tim Davis, his old whig opptment of 1848. In 1875 he was a candidate 
for governor against S. J. Kirkwood, and was defeated. He died at Burlington 
in 1879. He had been one of the trusted leaders of his party for many years. 

The letters from W. H. iMcrritt and George Greene show what interest these 
men had in the railroad enterprise. 

LETTER FROM MERRITT 

' ' Strictly confidential. Dubuque. May 28, 1848. 

"Friend Durham: 

"Having retired from the editorial tripod I find more time to devote to my 
friends in the reflective and agreeable exercise of correspondence than formerly. 
Since my second return to Iowa it would have been highly gratifying to my feel- 
ings had I been so situated in business as to have employed a portion of ray time 
in personal communication with mv friends, in viewing scenes connected with the 
earl}' settlement of Iowa, and in witnessing the numerous monuments reared to 
atte.st the prevailing, the restless and resistless enterpri.se of the Anglo-American. 
In 1838. when I first pitched my tent at Ivanhoe, Linn county had but few white 
inhabitants. pos,sessed but few attractions for one accustomed to the society of one 
of the old Federal colonies, and was entirely destitute of political or judicial 
organization. Everything that the eye could behold appeared in a rude state of 
nature. Vast prairies which extended for miles presented no evidences of civi- 
lization, no familiar sound like that of the woodman's axe appeared to interrupt 
the solemn stillness of an uninbahited wilderness. The marks of wild befists and 
wild men were now and then visible and the similitude was striking between the 
two, as though both were bom to the same sphere of action and subject to the .same 
laws of being. A sort of wildness and sacred stillness seemed to pervade the whole 
atmosphere. Reclining upon a buffalo robe in my tent, reflecting upon the varied 
scenerj' without and quietly listening to the solemn murmurs of the Cedar. I 



60 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



thou-ht I could perceive visions of earthly happiness for the man of true genius 
nowhere else to be found. The longer 1 remained upon the spot the more it 
endeared itself to my affections, and the less I thought of cultivated society and 
the dazzling beauties of wealth, and its primeval companion, aristocracj-^ Mature 
seemed to be decked in her nuptial dress and wild beasts danced to and fro with 
a festive heart to the harmonious notes of a troop of forest birds 

•'Circumstances forced me to leave that consecrated spot after a year s resi- 
dence^ and once more become a victim to the cold restraints and relentle^ laws 
of civilizati<.n. For five years was I bound by stem necessity to a habita ion 
Irse han a prison, and associated with men as little to be admired for their 
social cuaUtfes^of character as the cannibals of old. To be engaged in merchan- 
dis ng^uong a people whose only article of faith was "cheat and grow rich, 
and IhoSe friendship could be sec-ured only by corrupting the morals and lacerat- 
n" the hear o? the fnnocent, was a pursuit little to be desired by one whose heart 
had been consecrated to a different field of enterprise and nourished by the sacred 
iuimilses of the West. Be assured I escaped from this thralldom as soon as I 
ould and never to this hour has my mind enjoyed that repose that it did when 
seated upon the banks of the Cedar and surrounded by the beautiful scenery of 
ChoT I experienced a kind of maternal affection for the spot -^^^ 
instinc-tivelv chains mv mind to its early history, and a magic like that ^^hlch 
boi Blennerhasset t'o his favorite island in the Ohio seems to pervade eveiy 
recollection connected with its name and its founder. 

' Bu lui^t abandon this subject, or I shall trespass upon the time and space 
designed for another, and convert what was intended for a Pol't>'--«l l«^«er into a 
Mterfr>' bore. As vou manifested a friendly solicitude when here that I should 
xTup mv residence in Linn county when my studies were hmshed. I thought it 
not out of place to remind you where my inclination would lead me. 

"I would speak privately to you upon the sub.iect of a candidate for congress 
in this district. I understand that Mr. Preston of Lmn ,s to be a candidate; 
that L ertler will be a candidate ; Lefifing^vell of Bhx.mington and Bates and Folsom 
of Iowa City. LetHer I do not believe can be nominated. I think he has acted in 
bad faith with his constituents. Leifing^vell has no chance, although he has the 
untiring vigilance of S. C. Hastings to support him. Preston I tear has no chance. 
He is deceived by Hastings and I fear erroneously counts upon the delegation 
from Dubuque. "We have appointed eight delegates. I am one. I have spoken 
to them all and find that every man is in favor of giving «^^""7'°f >«" ^."^.J;;,"" 
County for the reason that the interest of Linn is iden ical with that of Diibuqxie 
in properly agitating and ultimately constructing the Railroad from this to 
Keokuk, but they will not support Preston because they have no eonhdenee in 

"- On? thin- is very certain, Friend Durham, and that is. that we must elect 
a man who is identified with this great railroad improvement^ Preston would no 
do b?do all in his power, but he fails to imite that confidence ^n h'« f«^'«r 
necessar? to give him the nomination. Leffler would no doubt do what he has 
3one give ofvenport the preference. Leffingwell as a matter of course wovdd 
feel bift little personal interest in a railroad running through the interior of the 
state and forty or fifty miles removed from his immediate constituency to whom 
he is more nearly allied and intimately associated in political friendship. All 
residing upon th^ banks of the Mississippi and in its immediate vicnity. except 
those at Keokuk and this point, are opposed to any grant by Congress for this 
railroad, and I can hardly conceive that it reflects any dishonor upon them as a 
commimity or as private individuals, for they are no doubt influenced like all 
men from'natural and selfish impulses. But with Mr. Leffler the case is far dif- 
ferent He was elected to represent the wishes and interests of one entire com- 
mimity of people, eight-tenths of whom have a direct and vital mterest m the 



o 

2 



V. 






v; 

o 
z 




FIKST RAILROAD IN THE COUNTY 61 

success of this enterprise. He is requested and repeatedly urged by petition and 
memorial to give it his earnest support. But he pays no regard to their solici- 
tations imtil a .scheme in which he is more directly interested is matured, forwarded 
to him, and he puts it upon its passage through Congress. At least six weeks 
before a single step was taken in aid of the Davenport road in this .state, petitions 
were forwarded to Mr. Lefflcr for the Dubuque and Keokuk road. In truth no 
move was made for the Davenport road until Judge Grant returned from 
Washington City, which was some twelve days after the Legislature had convened, 
ami after the petition had gone from this place. Cascade, from your town, a 
memorial from the legislature, and the convention had been held at Iowa City, at 
which, if I mistake not, you were present. Under this .state of facts I cannot but 
regard Mr. Leffler as hostile to this road, in which ca.se our delegation cannot 
support his claim. 

"As to Bates and Folsom of Iowa City, we regard them as feeling an equal 
interest in both roads, both proposing to pass through Iowa City. Under 
these circumstances what policy does it become us to adopt? Emphatically to 
select a candidate upon the proposed line of road. Can you not bring forward 
some man besides Preston ? Jlr. Boothe and .some three or four of our leading men 
have suggested to me that if Linn county should bring forward G. 6. [George 
Greene] , he would get the nomination and be elected by an overwhelming ma.iority. 
Mr. G. is absent and I know not whether it would suit him if conferred. He is 
in feeling and interest emphatically a Linn County man, but whether such a 
proposal would strike him favorably or meet with his sanction are questions which 
I am unable to solve. I think if sent to Congress he would be a working man 
and would be very active towards procuring an appropriation for the said road. 
He feels, as does ever>- Linn county man. a very deep interest in the enterprise. 
I wish you would give this subject a candid investigation and then write me 
upon the sub.iect. 

''I have been solicited to become a candidate for the Legislature. I have 
peremptorily declined. I feel no particular aspirations for office. I desire to 
give my time to the study of the law. You ^vill recollect that I have introduced 
the name of Mr. Greene to your notice without his knowledge and entirely upon 
my own responsibility. 

"Our families are all well. Jlr. Greene has been absent between three and four 
weeks. Remember me to all friends and believe me. yoiir obedient sen'ant and 
faithful friend. \Vm. H. Merritt. 

"P. S. — Will you be so kind as to inform Wm. Greene that Jlr. Bonson is 
anxiously waiting for that two yoke of oxen, which George contracted with him 
for. He wants them immediately. Respectfully yours. 

"Wm. H. Merritt." 

Mr. Merritt wa.s a man of ability and prominent in tJie democratic party 
up to the time of his death. As candidate for governor in 1861. against S. J. 
Kirkwood, with four other candidates claiming to nm on the denuK-ratic platform, 
Mr. Jlerritt received 4:^.245 votes out of a total vote cast of 108.700. This testi- 
fies to Mr. Merritt 's popularity among the people of Iowa. 

LETTER FROM GEORGE GREENE 

"Dubuque, March 3. 1847. 
"Dear Durham : 

"I find that I cannot without great injuiy to my business here, leave until 
next week ; but still I am very anxious to see the work go on. If you like my sug- 
gestion of finishing Jo's [Joseph Greene] contract first in order to expedite the 
arrival of the money it will be as well to have Wm. [Greene] send Andrew or some 



62 HISTORY OF LIXN COUNTY 

other person out to bring the field notes in. I propose the finishing of Jo's first 
because it can be done soonest. It vnll not require so long to plat the work in the 
S. G. 's office, and it will not interfere with the operations of Mr. Ross, who will 
take the field at the time, or soon after, you do. He wrote Mr. Wiltse that he 
should return to the work a.s soon as the snow decayed sufficient to justify. If 
any, he has done but very little in the T.s south of the one you have to correct. 
You may get any one you please to go out in my or Jo's place at our expense. 
The weather may not sufi'er you to start out before I come do^-n, which I think will 
be early next week. You will take my horse, wagon, or anything else of mine that 
you may need. Mr. Wiltse thinks you had better make all your calculations 
before going upon the ground. He thinks you can do it more correctly and with 
a great saving of time and expense. 

"If you should consider it necessary you can employ Major ]\IcKean to go in 
our place; though I should think Andrew or some other good hand will do as 
well. If you should see fit to adopt my plan I vr\\\ be at Cedar Rapids at the 
time the notes reach there and will bring them on immediately to Dubuque. 
Out of the money first received we will of course pay off the balance of the ex- 
penses of the surveys. You can show this to Wm. and Jos. 

"Yours truly 
"S. W. Durham, Esq., Geo. Greene. 

' ' Marion, 

"Linn Co., 
"Iowa." 

The following is a report of the railroad meeting held at Marion in 1850 in 
which nearly all the public-spirited men of the city took part : 

R.AILROID MEETING, MARION, NOVEMBER 30, 1850 

Meeting called to order by appointing P. W. Earle chairman and J. Green, 
secretary. 

On motion of W. Smythe, Esq., Resolved that a committee be appointed to 
report names of delegates to attend the State Rail Road Convention to be held at 
Iowa City on the day of December next. 

Committee apjiointed by chair, II. W. Gray, Sausman, Dr. Ely, Hill of Put- 
nam, Ashlock, Griffin, Mills of Marion. 

Maj. McKean was called for to address the meeting. He proceeded to do so in 
an appropriate address. 

On motion of Hon. G. Greene, Resolved that the delegates appointed to attend 
the State Rail Road Convention form themselves into a Rail Road Association 
and draft articles of said association for the advancement of the Dubuque & 
Keokuk Rail Road. 

The committee appointed to report names of delegates to attend State Con- 
vention through H. W. Gray report the names of the following persons as 
delegates : 

T. J. iMcKean, Hon. G. Greene, Dr. Jacob Williams, W. P. Ilarman, Esq., Ed. 
Railsback, Mr. Steadman, E. D. Wabi. Freeman Smythe, J. J. Nugent, E. Jordan, 
Dr. Brice, Col. I. Butler, Robert Robinson, Jas. M. Berry, Isaac Cook. Esq., John 
C. Berry, A. R. Sausman, X. W. Isbel. Esq., P. W. Earle, Esq.. William Smythe, 
Esq., Dr. J. F. Ely, Dr. Carpenter, Hon. S. W. Durham. 

Which report was by substituting the name of H. W. Gray in place of W. 
Smythe, Esq.. adopted. 

On motion of I. Cook, Esq., If any fail to attend they appoint a substitute. 

On motion of Dr. Carpenter, Resolved that the secretary inform absent dele- 
gates of their appointment. 



FIRST RAILEOAD IN THE COUNTY (53 

On motion of Hon. G. Greene, Resolved that the delegates shall assemble in 
a separate convention if they shall deem expedient after the action of the State 
Convention to advance the interest of the Dubuque & Keokuk Rail Road. 

ilessrs. Cook, Esq., and Hon. G. Greene being called for, addressed the meet- 
ing in appropriate addresses. 

On motion the meeting adjourned. 

J. Greene, Secretary. 

The getting of a railroad into Cedar Rajiids then was the much talked of 
scheme, and many people l)elieved that this would also end in failure as many 
other paper railrt)ads had ended before. But the men at the head of this company 
were men who had a standing in the financial world and were in touch with the 
big banks of the country. They did not rely on the ta.xes voted or on empty 
promises, for if these failed they would still go on with the work. It is needless 
to add that this company, like all others, got as much tax as possible and changed 
the location of the route according to the amounts of bonuses offered. A\lien the 
road entered Cedar Rapids it was the beginning and the end in the long struggle 
for railroad supremacy in the coimty, and decided for all times the supremacy of 
the river city over the county seat. The latter without a railway could do nothing 
more than sit dowii and wait till such a time as some company saw fit to extend a 
line across the state through other points. 

For the air line known as the Iowa Central Air Line, the citizens of Linn 
county voted in June, 1853, the sum of $200,0(X) to aid in the construction of the 
road. In 1856 congress voted a grant of land to the state of Iowa to aid in the 
construction of four roads across it, including one on the line of this company. 
The legislature in extra session conferred the land on this road in case it was com- 
pleted. A contract was let to a New York concern to complete the road to 
Clarion, a distance of eighty miles. On account of the financial crash in 1857 the 
contractors failed to raise the money and to go on with the work. While the 
people were sore over this failure another company began building from Clinton 
west and had completed forty miles during the year 1858. It came as far as 
Lisbon by the end of this year, and this was the first railroad station within the 
borders of Linn county. 

The Dubuque and South-westeni was extended through to Cedar Rapids in 
1865, just six years after the Northwestern road had laid its track to the river 
and had trains running. This cau.sed Cedar Rapids to become at that early day 
a sort of railway center, and opened up a new territory towards Dubuque. It was 
not a success financially till it was absorbed by the Milwaukee road in May, 1878. 

The following letter from one of the first employes will be of interest in this 
connection : 

"Lamar, Mo.. Sept. 5. IfllO. 
"The Dubuque and Southwestern track was laid to Spring%ille in the year 
1859 or 1860. Mr. Je.s.sup was president, and J. P. Farley, superintendent and 
manager. Mr. McConnell was road master. He owned a farm near Langworthy. 
I remember the first regular train was composed of one mail, express and bag- 
gage ear combined, and one flat-top coach. The engine pulling the string was 
named 'Prairie King.' a little 14 by 16 or 18 inch cylinder. The track was laid 
with about 50 pound English T rail. The road had at this time three engines 
besides the 'Prairie King.' viz: the 'Prairie Queen.' still smaller than the 
King, the 'Anamosa.' and the 'Monticello, ' which was of the Rogers make of 
engines, the other thret> being of Mason manufacture. The conductor, Archie Cox, 
engineer. Ace Owens, and Baggagema.ster Watson came to our house for 
supper and boarded with our folks until they could get accommodations at the 
Rruce house, and I went the next day on the train as the first newsboy. I was 



G4 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

still newsboy when Vicksburg was taken. I then went to the army and stayed 
until after the war closed. I went on the road again after the war as fireman, 
brakeman. and baggageman. About 1870 I was promoted to conductor and stayed 
with the company mitil 1875. After Archie Cox rjuit the road Frank Farley 
took his place, and when the road was extended to Cedar Rapids, two or three 
years later, they put another train on, one leaving Cedar Rapids in the morning 
and one leaving Farley Junction in the morning. After they put on the second 
train Charley Farley was conductor of that train and George Farley was agent 
at the station at Cedar Rapids. Pat Cunningham was roadmaster for several 
years, and James Rollo was master mechanic and engineer for ten or twelve years. 
Our first stock cars were flat cars and when we got an order for a stock car we 
would take a flat ear to the shop and put stakes and slats on in order to hold the 
stock while in transit. C. H. Br.vnch. " 

One of the most important occurrences in the county was when on Jime 15. 
1859, the first railroad made its entrance into Cedar Rapids and once and for all 
made the town the chief city in this part of the state. 

This was accomplished after many failures and after much money had been 
expended for surveys and in other ways. The following from men still living, 
who remember the affair, will give the reader an idea as to how jubilant all were 
on the day of this celebration : 

George C. Haman was at that time running a drug store at about the same lo- 
cation he has now. The corner of First avenue and First street was then occupied 
by what was called Greene's hotel, and ]\Ir. Haman occupied a store room in the 
south side of the building. He remembers distinctly the big celebration held in 
honor of the first train to arrive. 

Mr. Haman said, as near as he could remember, that the town of Cedar Rapids 
had a population of about 1.500 people at that time and a big celebration was 
inaugurated and carried out. People from the surrounding country came to 
towai to see the train come in, and the Indians on the reservation at Tama almost 
turned out enmasse to see the great piece of machinerj' that they had heard so much 
about but had never seen. The day was a great holiday, mueli of the regular 
business being suspended and the people turned out in their best clothes to 
celebrate what was to them the greatest day in the historj' of the city. 

The train pulled into the city to the time of hundreds of voices, that contained 
but little harmony but plenty of volume. Arms, hats and handkerchiefs were 
waved in accompaniment, displaying a due appreciation for the beginning of 
what was to make Cedar Rapids the beautiful and prosperous city that it is. A 
railroad was what was needed and it was now theirs. 

The terminal of the road was about where the packing house is now located, 
and it was a couple of years before an extension was made, the track l)eing laid as 
far as the location of the cereal mills, which at that time was an enterprise yet 
to come. 

Jlr. Haman says that one incident is fixed indelibly on his memory, and that 
was the big dance that was held that night. He was obliged to remain at the 
store during the day and did not get to see the train come in, but he attended the 
dance which continued until sunrise the next morning. He was a single man and 
as was the custom had his lady friend with him and was obliged to send her home 
in an omnibus, the then prevailing means of transportation about the city, as it 
was time to open the store and he did not have time to accompany her home. 
The dance was held in what was known as Daniels hall, located where the Masonic 
Temple now stands. 

Another who has recollections of the great event is Emery Brown and it was 
in conversation between Mr. Haman and Emery Brown that these facts were 




COPYRIGHT, BY 8AVLIS 

A PRESENT DAY SCENE IN LINN COUNTY 



<■/ '<■ 'i-ii^ '^Connln ^/rji. i/^ Iht ram ./ ■ ^ 

'^^^^^^/C//^/^Q^*^^^^^-q*^rltr of Sutim No. /^^h-O in TomiiAg) .V- 






7. 



hmAtdtht at 9 f-f^ S' p* 




''fZ/^u^M) ,„d.^^ 



AN OLD LAND RECEIPT 




STEAMBOAT ON THE CEDAR, 1887 



FIRST RAILROAD IN THE COUNTY 65 

collected. The road was extended to Cedar Rapids from Cliiitoii, wlierc counec- 
tion WTis made to Clii<-ago. There was no bridge aen>ss the Mississippi river 
at that time and the trains were ferried across the river by means of a large, flat 
ferry boat. 

In order to secure the railroad tlie town was ohljijcd to give $1(M),()()0 to the 
railroad com])any. lSto<'k was issued in i)ayin('nt. James L. Bever was another 
man in business here at that time and he made it a point to iiurcha.se all this 
city stock he could, which proved to he to his advantage. The road was later 
leased by the Northwestern and finally purchased. 

With reference to this road a Linn county biography offers the following: 

"The organization under which this line came into C'cdar Kapids was the 
Chicago, Iowa and Xebraska Kailroad company, which was organized at Clinton 
in January. ISofi. There were several railroad prospwts about this time form- 
ulating in Clinton, or in jilaces having a close proximity to the ^lississippi. 
Finally all the railroad enterprises extending westward from the river united in 
the Chicago, Iowa and Xebraska railroad. When that company commenced their 
operations, it was expected it would have the co-operation of the Galena company. 
Failing to receive this it pre.s-sed forward its work unaided, and by the latter 
part of 1857 had the track laid as far a.s the Wai)si[)inic(m river, a distance of 
thirty-six miles. In July. 1858. it was laid as far as ("larciicc. Cedar county, and 
in December, the same year, the road was completed U) Lisbon, sixty-four miles 
from Clinton. The following June (1859) the locomotive steamed into Cedar 
Rapids, a distance of eighty-two miles from the Mississippi. There was great 
rejoicing here and the event was duly celebrated. 

"It was a most important event to Cedar Rapids for it was the termination 
of a struggle for railroad sui)rcmacy in the county. 

"In 1862 the road was leased to the Chicago and Xorthwcstcrn company, and 
before the Iea.se expired it had secured control of it. Work was resumed on the 
ext^^nsion (for which the Cedar Rapids and ^lissouri Railroad company was 
organized), and pushed with vigor. It was complet^^d acros,s the great state of 
Iowa to Council Blntl's in 1867, where it made connections with the Union 
Pacific." 



I 



CHAPTER IX 

The Old Settlers' Association 

A vigorous Old Settlers' Association has been maintained for several years, 
the meeting being held at Marion. Following are lists of the officers since its 
beginning in 1891 to date, of the members and the death roll: 



OFFICERS 



1891 



1899 



Chas. Wearo, president. Cedar Rapids 
J. C. Davis, secretary, Marion 
A. J. McKean, treasurer, Marion 

1892 

I. P. Bowdish, president, Waubeek 
J. C. Davis, seeretaiy. Clarion 
A. J. I\lcKean, treasurer, J\Iarion 

1893 

Wm. Cook, president, Marion 
J. C. Davis, secretary. ]\Iarion 
A. J. McKean, treasurer, Marion 

1894 

Wm. Cook, president, ^Marion 
J. C. Davis, secretary, ]\Iarion 
A. J. McKean. trea.surer, ilarion 

1895 

Robert Ellis. President, Cedar Rapids 
J. C. Davis, secretary, Marion 
A. J. McKean. treasurer, ]\Iariou 

1896 

J. S. Butler, president. Springville 
J. C. Davis, secretary, Marion 
A. J. McKean, treasurer, Marion 

1897 

John Lanning, president, Lafayette 
Z. V. Elsberry. secretary, Marion 
A. J. McKean. treasurer, JMarion 

1898 

John J. Daniels, president, Bertram 
J. C. Davis, secretary, Marion 
E. A. Vaughn, treasurer. Marion 



John A.shlock. president. Center Point 
Z. V. Elsberry, secretary, Marion 
E. A. Vaughn, treasurer. Marion 

1900 

E. A. Vaughn, president, Marion 
Z. V. Elsberry, secretary, Marion 
James Oxley, treasurer, Marion 

1901 

M. P. Smith, president. Cedar Rapids 
Jolui Cone, secretary, Marion 
James Oxley, treasurer, Marion 

1902 

Cha.s. Kepler, president, Mt. Vernon 
Fred Knowlton, secretary, Marion 
James Oxley, treasurer. Marion 

1903 

1'. G. Henderson, president. Central C'y 
Jas. W. Bowman, sec. and treas., Marion 

1904 

J. C. Davis, president. Marion 

^I. W. Courtney, sec. and treas.. ^laricm 

1905 

J. C. Davis, president, Marion 

M. W. Courtney, sec. and treas., Marion 

1906 

]\I. P. Smith, president. Cedar Rapids 
J. C. Davis, sec. and treas., ^Marion 

1907 

A. B. Dumont, president, Marion 
J. C. Davis, .see. and treas., Jlarion 



THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION 



67 



1908 
Garry Treat, president, JIarion 
J. C. Davis, sec. and treas., Marion 
Ben R. Reicliard, acting sec, Marion 

1909 
A. M. Secrist, president. ^Marion 
T. J. Davis, sec. and treas., Marion 



1910 

Alex Torrance, president, Springville 
F. J. Cleveland, sec. and treas., Marion 

1911 

Marshall Oxiey, president, Clarion 

F. J. Cleveland, sec. and treas., Marion 



MKMHERS 
Names preceded by a star note those who have died since .joining tiie association. 



1837 
•Crow. Edward JI.. Anamosa 
Ellison. Mary. Jit. Vernon 
•Hahn, Daniel S., Mt. Vernon 
McKee, Daniel, Kenwood 

1838 
Clark, Edwin. Marion 
•Clark, Luther, .Mt. Vernon 
•Clark, David. Martelle 
Elson, Melissa T.. Marion 
Ellis. Robert. Cedar Rapids 
•JIcKcan, A. J.. Marion 
McCoy. J. F.. Cent<,»r Point 
McManus, Jennie, Spring\'ille 
"White, Rebecca, Bertram 

1839 
Baker. Mary J., Cedar Rapids 
Barber. Orpha. Marion 
•Beall, Dorcas. Marion 
•Beeler. Fred, JIarion 
•Beeler. Xancy. Marion 
Beeler. Sarah. Marion 
Brockman. Rizpah Tj.. Marion 
•Broniwell. J. E.. Sr.. Marion 
•Busenbark. Agnes, Mt. Vernon 
Barret. Amelia, Waubeek 
•Brown. Horace X., Spring^-ille 
•Brown. Mrs. 11. X.. Sprin£r\'illc 
•Burge. Jeri'iniali. Mt. Vernon 
Corbley, Sarah, Paralta 
Carroll, I. W., Cedar Rapids 
•Carroll, Geo. R.. Cedar Rapids 
•Clark, Ormiis. ifarion 
•Cone. Byron. Marion 
Cone. Geo. W.. Marion 
•Cone, Oliver B.. Marion 
Cronk. Amy, Robins 
•Dill, Thomas. Ely 
•Gray. G. A., Marion 
•Hare. Thomas. Marion 
•Iliggins. Anna E.. Central City 



Ilogland, Francis. Center Point 
Ives, Elihu. Marion 
•Ives, John. ]\Iarion 
*Kramer. Andrew, Marion 
Kramer. Isaac. Marion 
Kramer, Lewis, ilaricm 
Kramer, Wm. I)., Cedar Rapids 
•Lewis, L. D., ]\It. Venion 
•Lewis. Thomas. Palo 
•Lueore, Sarah A., Marion 
*Lutz, Ann M., Marion 
*Lutz. Barnett.e, Cedar Rapids 
*;\Ianley. Xancy, Linn County 
Martin, (tiles R.. Marion 
Martin, James A.. Jesup 
•McElhinney, Robert. Lisbon 
Mentzer, Charlotte I.. ]Marion 
•Oliphant. Edward. Center Point 
*Patterson. Geo. A.. Marion 
*Perkins, Geo. C. Anamosa 
Railshack. John. Palo 
•Strong. Christena L., Kenwood Park 
Torrence. Caroline N.. Cedar Rapids 
•Usher. Dyer, Covington 
Lusher. Henry A.. Covington 
Usher. Iliram. Covington 
Usher. Rosanna. Covington 
*Wel)b(T. Sarah. Lisbon 
White. L. C. Alburnette 
•Wilson. Ira G.. Marion 
•Yeisle.v. Geo.. Mt. Vernon 
Yeisley. Oliver, Mt. Vernon 

1840 
.Anderson. James C. Bertram 
Ashlock. John M.. Center Point 
•Bardwcll. T. S.. Marion 
Boxley, Jno. S.. Cedar Rapids 
•Bishop. J. n.. Springville 
•Brazelton, Samuel C, Coggon 
•Butler, J. S.. Springville 
Butler. Mrs. J. S.. Spring%ille 
•Camegv. John. Marion 



68 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



*Clark, Barbarv E., Mt. Vernon 
*Clark, Oliver, :\It. Vernon 
*Darr, Mary Jane, Cedar Rapids 
*Dodd, Silas W., Randolph 
Dodd, C. M., Randolph 
Dunlap, A. T.. Springville 
*Diirham, San)iiel W., ilarion 
*Gra.y, John W., Marion 
*Gray, Richard, IMarion 
Gray, W. W., Marion 
*Hagerman, ;\Irs. A., Toddville 
Hemphill, Rachel, Alice 
*Ive.s, Hannah, ]\Iarion 
Jordan, Mrs. L. E., Kenwood 
McBride, Kenwood 
*MeElhinney, Clara, Lisbon 
McKinney, Mose E., Wanbeek 
Mclntyre, Elizabeth, Lisbon 
McDonald, Mrs. M. II., Cedar Rapids 
Oliphant, John, Toddville 
Osborn, John II., Center Point 
*Oxley, Joseph M., jMarion 
*Patt.erson. Wm. J., Cedar Rapids 
^Reynolds, Nathan, ]\Iarion 
*Smyth, Robert, Jit. Vernon ' 
Speake, J. B., Walker 
*Sqiiires, Milton, Center Point 
Ptanibangh, Rachel, Bertram 
Stewart, Mrs. M. M., Cedar Rapids 
"*Thoma.s, Richard, Clarion 
Thompson, Samuel D., ]Marion 
^Thompson. Lucretia, Marion 
Williams, Marj^ J., Marion 

1841 
Bardwell, Eliza A., ]Marion 
*BeaLl, Jeremiah, I\Iarion 
Clark, Cyrial II., Central City 
*Cone, John, Marion 
Courtney, Joel ;\I., Marion 
Doty, Elias, Bertram 
Dutton, Louisa, Marion 
*I)urham, IMrs. E., Marion 
Elson, IMrs. Andrew, Fairfax 
Glover, Marj-, Marion 
*Gray, Mrs. Emeline, Clarion 
Harvey. Edna A., Clarion 
"Hemphill, Johnson, Alice 
Hemphill, N., Alice 
*Hunter, J. G., Cedar Rapids 
Keams, Catherine, Springrville 
Larrabee, W., Kenwood 
Listebarger, Maria, Cedar Rapids 
McQueen. J. C. Prairieburg 
MeKee, Sarah, Kenwood 



'■■Mentzer, Joseph. Tacoma. Wa.sh. 
*Oxley. Albert, Jlariou 
Oxley, James, ]\Iarion 
Plumley, Susan, Waubeek 
Pletcher, Catherine, Robins 
Pletcher, Catherine, Clarion 
Preston, Edmond C, Cedar Rapids 
Preston, J. H., Cedar Rapids 
*Rhoten, Sarah J., Viola 
Richards, Daniel, Palo 
■■Richard.son, D. "SI., ilt. Vernon 
*Ristine, Henry. Cedar Rapids 
Snyder, Mary B., Cedar Rapids 
*Ure, William, Fairfax 
*Vaughn, E. A.. Marion 
*Waln. E. D., Mt. Vernon 
*Waln, Mary J., Mt. Vernon 
Ward, George, Center Point 
Willard, Jlrs. L. L.. Center Point 

1842 
Alexander. J. S., Marion 
Bardwell, L. P., Mt. Auburn, Cal. 
Blackmar, Mrs. E. E., Clarion 
*Broekman. James A., Marion 
Brockman. J. L.. Missouri 
*Cheadle. Dean, Marion 
Combs. Wm. IL, Cedar Rapids 
* Combs, Harriet F., Cedar Rapids 
Gillilan, N. C, Central City 
*Goudy, J. C. Mt. Vernon 
*Goudy, W. H., Mt. Vernon 
*Greer. John JI., Marion 
*Greer, JIary, JIarion 
Grove, Jennie R., Mt. Vernon 
*Harmon, Peter D., Cedar Rapids 
Harmon, Speare, Bertram 
*Higlev. M. A.. Cedar Rapids 
*Higlev, W. W.. Cedar Rapids 
HoUenWk, C. W., Cedar Rapids 
Holmes. Geo. W., Cedar Rapids 
Holmes, ]\Irs. Eliza. Marion 
Howard, Matilda, Cedar Rapids 
'"Hunter, John. Marion 
*Hunter. William, Cedar Rapids 
Irish, Jlary, Springville 
King, Rebecca, Marion 
Knapp, G. W., Bertram 
McDowell. Catherine, Cedar Rapids 
*McCall, David, Martelle 
*Parks, Mrs. L., Cedar Rapids 
Powers. Eliza J., Elmont 
*Reinheimer. Valentine. Marion 
Robins. John W.. Robins 
Williams, Mary J., Cedar Rapids 




DR. JNO. F. ELY 
An Early Pioneer in Cedar Kapiils 



THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION 



69 



Winter, Clarissa D., Marion 
•Woodeox, Newman, .Mt. Vernon 

1843 

•Breed, R. A.. Martelle 
Daniels. Mary A., Marion 
Fleming, Sarah E., Alburnett 
•Fiihnneister. A. J.. Ely 
Gray, \V. 0.. Jewel City. Kan. 
llali, Oliver's., .Marion 
Haa.s, ^Vn^., Central City 
•Ilollan. Samuel. Cedar Rapids 
Hollan. Susan. Cedar Rajiids 
*noward. Paine. Cedar Rapids 
•John. Mrs. L. J.. Mt. Vernon 
Kem[i. Z('n()[)lion. Marion 
'Knapp, .lohn F.. Bertram 
•Lillic, Kulalia L., Marion 
Mann, Alva, Paralta 
JIcKinnie, Lovina, Waubeek 
Met«alf, H. S., Cedar Rapids 
Morrison. J. B.. Cedar Rapids 
Parkhurst. Mi-s. L. K.. Marion 
Pect. W. H.. Viola 
Rench, Jleliuda. Center Point 
Snyder, Sarah A., Bertram 

1844 
Anderson. Mary E.. Palo 
Birch. Victoria A., Marion 
Clark. Geo., Covington 
Clarke. George, Cedar Rapids 
Combs. Jlrs. II. E., Cedar Ra|>ids 
Cone. Caroline, Marion 
Cooper, Mrs. Chhx', Clarion 
•Cordes. Mrs. C, Mt. Venion 
•Daniels. John J., Bertram 
•Emmons, Emeline. Bertram 
Gra.v, James JI.. Marion 
•Harris. Wm. M.. Marion 
Ilort'man, John. Lisbon 
•Johnson. John. Mt. Vernon 
•Jordan. Chandler. Waubeek 
Kejder. Chas. W.. Mt. Vernon 
•Kepler. Conrad. Mt. Venion 
•Kei)ler. John W.. Mt. Vernon 
Kershner, F.. Ely 
Knapp. Asa P., Cedar Riipids 
Lacotk. Mrs. C. A., Mt. Vernon 
Miller. C. L.. Cedar Rapids 
•Oxley, James M., Spriiigville 
Penrose. Lewis. Shellsburg 
•Pisel. Susanna. Marion 
Porter. Mrs. R. II.. Robins 
Robertson, P. P.. Marion 



Secsrist, Mrs. A. M.. Marion 
Snyder, Sarah A.. Bertram 
Stinger. F. B.. Marion 
•Stinger, Philip, Mt. Vernon 
Thompson, W. C, Marion 
Watcrhouse, M. J., Coggon 

1845 

•Becker, Francis, Marion 
•Beckner. Elizabeth. .Marion 
*Beckner. John. Marion 
Betdmer, Miss Rebecca. .Marion 
•Beall, Elizabeth. Marion 
•Beall, Sarah J., Cedar Rapids 
Bice, :\Iary C, Troy Mills 
•Black, Isaac, Marion 
Courtney, jMary A,, Marion 
•Cooper. Joseph. Marion 
Cooper. Polly P.. Marion 
Cumberland, M. E.. Alice 
•Dumont, A. B., Marion 
•Dumont, Julia A.. Marion 
Femow. Ann. Marion 
•Glass. John P., Cedar Rapids 
Gra.v. Sarah ]\I.. Marion 
Male. Mary S.. Cedar Rapids 
Howard, William. Ced.ar Rapids 
Hopkins, A. C. Cedar Rapids 
IIeat(m. Peter A.. Central City 
•Leffingwell. Mrs. B., Marion 
.Marshall. L. S.. Central City 
.Marshall. Warren S.. Central City 
McKean. Sarah P., Marion 
.McLaughlin, Cassa, ]\Iarion 
*McShane. John, Spring\'ille 
-Murphy. M. F.. Cedar Rapids 
.N'ott. Lydia L.. Marion 
•Nuckolls. Susanna, Viola 
•Ovington, T. S., Marion 
Ovingt<m. Mrs. T. S., IMarion 
Oxley, Sarah. Marion 
•Paul, Alexander. ^Marion 
Paul. George. S|)ring\'illc 
Pern-. Sarah E.. Central City 
Pugh. John. Troy Mills 
•Robins. I.sabella. Marion 
Smith, ]Mary A., Cedar Rapids 
•Stone. Sarah J.. Springville 
•Stone, Zephny, Springville 
Wightman. Joanna, Clarion 

1846 
•Albaugh. Daniel, Rol)ins 
Alexander. Lenora. Marion 
liaker. Fllmira. Marion 



70 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



Beeler, J. M., ]\Iarion 
*Bigger, Francis, Clarion 
*Clark, Sabra G.. :\lt. Vemon 
CofiSts, John, Cedar Kapids 
*Daniels, Martha R., Bertram 
*Daniels, Preston, Marion 
Daniels, Samuel, ilarion 
Gillette, Charles A., Lisljon 
*Gott, Willis S., Marion 
*Guzzle, Daniel, Marion 
Hein, A. A., ^Marion 
Harman, Warren, Cedar Rapids 
Hart, Geo. B., Viola 
Hayes, Mrs. L. C, Marion 
Hayes, J. B., Marion 
Huffman, James M., ^Marion 
Jordan, Geo. L., Sprinar^'ille 
Keenan, H. G., Marion 
Martin, Sarah, Center Point 
McShane, Frank. Springville 
Minehart, Mrs. John, Central City 
Palmer. ]Mary, Jlarion 
Sigworth, Mrs. M. P., Anamosa 
Smyth, Margaret, Mt. Vemon 
Starbuck, Laura, IVIarion 
Stentz, Esther. Paralta 
*Thomas, James, Lafayette 
Wood, Will. W., Viola' 

1847 
Ackley, DeWitt C. Viola 
Bascom, Lizzie, Lisbon 
Bennets, Susan, Paralta 
*Brenneman, A.. Marion 
*Charles, J. F., Cedar Rapids 
Dicken, Isaac, Toddville 
*Ely, John F., Cedar Rapids 
Floyd, Elizabeth, Lisbon 
*Giililan, Elizabeth, Viola 
*Hoover, Jonathan. Lisbon 
Hershey, Henry, Lafayette 
Hurshey, Margaret, Viola 
* Johnson, S. S., Cedar Rapids 
Keithley, J. W., Prairieburg 
Kurtz, C. H., Marion 
*MeManus, Joseph, Palo 
Miller, Samuel, Robins 
Moors, Mrs. C, Viola 
Neidig, Nancy, Mt. Vernon 
Ne\\i:on, Geo. W., California 
Oxley, Perry. Marion 
Perkin.s, Elizabeth, Anamosa 
Ristine. John JI., Cedar Rapids 
Ringer, B. II., Lisbon 
Shields, Mattie E., Cedar Rapids 



*Stewart, Wm., Cedar Rapids 
*Stone, J. D., Springville 
Torrance, Alexander, Springville 
*Wickham, S. J., Troy Mills 
Wickham, Mrs. S. J., Troy MiUs 

1848 

*Adams, Fannie, Lafayette 
Blair, Elizabeth, Cedar Rapids 
Blessing, Wm., Cedar Rapids 
*Busenbark, John, Marion 
Burch, Leroy, Cedar Rapids 
Burch, Mrs. M. V., Cedar Rapids 
Cook, Letita, Marion 
Cone, Mrs. Jolm, Marion 
Clark, W. O., Mt. Vernon 
*Glass, I. 0., Cedar Rapids 
*Gray, Mattie Jane, Marion 
*Granger, Amelia, Marion 
*Howe, Joseph A., Marion 
Hazzlerigg, Francis, Viola 
Hemphill, Barliara, Lafayette 
Hastings, W., Marion 
Johnson, William. Cedar Rapids 
*Jones, Harriett, Springville 
* Jones, Pierson, Springville 
Kinley, D. R., Marion 
Kennedy, C. B., Cedar Rapids 
Klenlvnecht, Laura, Jit. Vernon 
Kurtz, D. H., Cedar Rapids 
Morrison, Louisa, Cedar Rapids 
McCleary, Margaret. Marion 
Oxley, Henry C, Jlarion 
*Patmore, Mary J., Mt. Vemon 
Revnolds, Jap, Marion 
Rickard, W. S., Cedar Rapids 
Russell, Geo. W., Walker 
Seott, David, Mt. Vemon 
Strite, Mary C, Springville 
*Thomas, Jeremiah, Jit. Vernon 
*Travis, Daniel, Mt. Vernon 
♦Wallace, D. R.. Marion 
Wallace, John C, JIarion 
*Wilson, John. Marion 
*Weare, Charles, Cedar Rapids 
Wilson, Mrs. C. JL, Troy Mills 

1849 

*Anderson, J. S., Cedar Rapids 
*Bolton, A.. Paralta 
Brj'an, Mrs. Louisa, Center Point 
Clark, Margaret J., Jlarion 
*Cooper. Wm., Marion 
*Dean, Preston S., Marion 
*Dorwart, David, Cedar Rapids 



THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION 



71 



•Ford, E. P., Central City 
•Fullerton, Geo. E., Marion 
•Gillilau, D. C, Central City 
Grove, S. N., Marion 
Ilenee, Mary, Lafayette 
Ilahn, H, iMt. Vernon 
James, .Mehitahle, Viola 
Jordan, Mrs. E. A., Spring\'ille 
Keyes, A. J., Marion 
Kyle, Isaac, Mt. Vernon 
•Kyle, John, Mt. Venion 
•Kyle, L. B., .Mt. Vernon 
Langsdale, Wni. I., Center Point 
Langfsdale, Julia A., Center Point 
•Martin, Almira, St. Paul 
Milner, Sarah A., Marion 
Jliller, Mrs. C. L., Cedar Rapids 
McParland, J. G., Mt. Venion 
Null, Mary E., Cedar Rapids 
•Nugent, J. J., Coggon 
•Oxley, Wni., Delta, Idaho 
Parker, Mrs. B. F.. Cedar Rapids 
Quass, Barbara, Cedar Rapids 
Quass, Godfried, Cedar Rapids 
Shanldin, ]\Iary A., Viola 
Swan. John P.. Clarion 
Taylor, John, Toddville 
Taylor, M. V., Marion 
•Vannote. B., Cedar R^ipids 
White, Elizabeth, Sj)ringville 
•White, Ilosea. Sj>ring\Mlle 
•Wiekham, B. P.. Marion 
Wilson, Mrs. Eva, Marion 

1850 
•Andrews, C. C, Marion 
•Andrews, Geo. H.. Coggon 
•Alderman, E. B.. Rivei-side. Calif. 
Beall, Mrs. James M., Cedar Rapids 
Beall. Wm. E., :\Iarion 
•Blessing, IIeiir>', Lisbon 
Biggs. E. W.. Clarion 
•Booze, Geo., Robins 
•Brown, John, Central City 
Bressler, A. P.. Cedar Rapids 
•Carbee. John P., Springville 
Daniels. A. L.. Marion 
Dunn, Amelia, Springville 
Ellison, Wm. G.. Mt. Vernon 
Enders, Fred, Cedar Rapids 
Esgate, D. W., Mt. Vernon 
Evans, Buel, Central City 
Fitzgerald. Geo.. Center Point 
•Floyd. Martin, Lisbon 
Furstenmakcr. N.. Prairieburg 



•Gardner, Amanda, Marion 
Goodyear, Anna B., Mt. Vernon 
Garret.son. Jlrs. Angela W., Marion 
•Hendei-son, .Mrs. P. G.. Central City 
Graham, Jnsiah. Cedar Rapids 
Holland, I. W., Center Point 
Hoover, Marj', Lisbon 
Kramer, Valinda, Clarion 
"Kelsey, J. C, Cedar Rapids 
Laeock, Nira, Martelle 
Minehart. John, Central City 
Oxley, J. T., Jlarion 
Piper, JIartha A., Cedar Rapids 
Parmenter, I\Irs. Lyda, i\Iarion 
Reiuheimer, Jacob, Clarion 
Rollins, Rachel. Viola 
Rundall, G. W., Viola 
Scott. James R., Clarion 
•Smith, C. E.. Marion 
Smith, Daniel, Central City 
Smith, Joseph, Central City 
Stewart, J. 0., Cedar Rapids 
Stookey, Mary E., Bertram 
•Taylor, Ernestine, Marion 
•Wagner, Wm., Central City 
•W^ilson. Dr. E. D., Troy .MHls 
Wilson. Rebecca J., Lafayette 
Willard, Mary G., Marion 

1851 
Arnold, Sarah, Cedar Rapids 
Baker, J. A.. Ely 
Baker. John. Marion 
•Barnard, Asher. Springville 
•Berry, Robert, Bertram 
•Breed, Ira, jMart<>ne 
•Breed, C. W., :\rartelle 
Carbee, Mrs. J. P.. Spring\-ille 
Cardis. Christian, Mt. Vernon 
Clarke. Caroline, Covington 
Cook, Mary C, Maritm 
•Cook, Wm., Marion 
Cumberland. II. C. Alice 
•Dunlap, John. Springville 
Evans, James, Paris 
Feniow, C. G.. Clarion 
Finson. Ida. Central City 
Fitzgerald. Ja-s. B., Cedar Rapids 
Fleming, James, JIarion 
Hale, Marj' S.. C*dar Rapids 
Hall, Mrs. Ida. Marion 
Hall, J. J., Cedar Rapids 
Hazeltine. E. D.. Center Point 
Hendrvxson. F. M.. Marion 
Hill, Mrs. A. T., Cedar Ripids 



72 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



•Shiiin. Joab R., Marion 
Slifo. James, Martelle 
Smith, Wm. A., Mt. Vemon 
*Smith, C. G.. Springville 
Smyth, Wm., Cedar Rapids 
Spragiie. Mrs. R. C, Cedar Rapids 
Stinger. Eliza E., Mt. Veruon 
StrawTi, N. P.. Shellslnirg 
Stuart, Geo. W., Cedar Rapids 
Taylor, Mrs. S. V., Marion 
*T*hompson, H. J., ]Marion 
Thompson, Christina, Marion 
*Torrance, H. F., Jit. Vemon 
White, John R., Bertram 
Wilson, R. J., Lafayette 
Wilson. W. ai., Lafayette 
Wright, George J., Waubeek 

1852 
*Anderson, G. H.. Waubeek 
Andei-son. Gerselda, Waubeek 
Andrews. Elizabeth. Waubeek 
Ashlock, G. W.. Lafayette 
Bever, James L., Cedar Riipids 
*Beeehlev, Jesse, Jit. Vemon 
Biggs, K F., Troy Mills 
*Bixby, Jesse C, Marion 
*Black, John, Marion 
Blat'k. Mrs. John. Marion 
Bromwell, M. E.. Marion 
Brown, John B., Marion 
Brown, T. C, Mt. Vernon 
Bro\\-n, F., Prairieburg 
Burns, Hannah, Robins 
Buchanan. George, Cedar Rapids 
*Bimting. Eli, Marion 
Clark, Francis M., Mt. Vernon 
Coleman, Martha, Marion 
Coeneu. Soplua, Marion 
'Cone, Mary A.. Marion 
*Crosby, Alice G., Central City 
*Danee. L. F.. Lafayette 
*Denny. John Q., Waubeek 
Denny. Mi-s. John Q., Waubeek 
Button, J. Q. A., Marion 
Evans, Adam. Paris 
Evans, James, Paris 
Freeman, John, Paris 
Gilblaith, John, Fairfax 
Hall, Jlary A.. Coggon 
*IIansell. Hannah, Marion 
*Hansell, Jos. A.. Jlarion 
Helbig, F. A., Lafayette 
Hill, Deborial. Cedar Rapids 
Hill, James, Cedar Rapids 



Holloway, John C. JIarion 
Houver. Sadie E.. Marion 
Hogland, P., Center Point 
Houston, A. P., Coggon 
*Irish, Joel S., Springville 
Ives, Lawson L., ilarion 
Keller, Jolm, Cedar Rai)id.s 
*Kendall, W. J., Marion 
Lanning, Jolm, Lafayette 
Legore, John, Cedar Rapids 
*Legore, James E., Cedar Rapids 
Leigh, John B., Jit. Vernon 
Lincoln, Fannie A.. Cedar Rapids 
Listebarger, I. C, Cedar Rapids 
Listebarger, Jlaggie, Cedar Rapids 
JIcArthur. JI. E., Palo 
*JIcShane, Jacob. Paralta 
Miller. Acciuilla, Cedar Rapids 
'-Mills, Mahlon, Central City 
Perkins, Chas. E., Anamosa 
Paul, Arthur, Spring^'ille 
Pifer, Martha A., Center Point 

*Reinheimer. Paulina. Marion 

*Reece, David, Troy Jlills 

Rhoten, John IL. Portland 

Riger, J. C, Lisbon 

*Rose, R. P., Lisbon 

Shaver, Margaret. Fairfax 

Jordan. Geo. E., Marion 

Knapp. Henry, Bertram 

Lanning, JIargaret J.. Lafayette 

*Long. David P.. Paris 

Jlills, Julie L., Central City 

*JIills, Mrs. Lucy, Central City 

Manahan, A., Center Point 

Jlanahan. Mrs. A., Center Point 

Maudsley, Jlrs. S. M.. Cedar Rapids 

Morse, Mary E., Riverside. Calif. 

MeShane, Geo., Springville 

Newlin. Geo., Viola 

*Nott. B. H.. Marion 

Nott, J. H.. JIarion 

•Nott, R. II., JIarion 

Oxiey, R. S., Marion 

Oxiey, Jlargaret, JIarion 

Pletcher, Amos, JIarion 

Paiil, Mrs. M. J.. Spring\'ille 

Post, Geo. W., Viola 

*Polloek, John, Springville 

Rhoten. Rilla, Portland, Ore. 

Rimdall, S. W., Jlarion 
Shanklin, A. T., Waubeek 
Shanklin. F. M.. Viola 
Sherwood, Jos. B.. Viola 
Smith, Caroline, Jlaricm 





JOHN A. KEARNS 
Came Here in 1853 



A. J. REID 
Who Came Here in 1852 



if. 


i 


Iv-^ 


.u 


kT^^ 


rm 


P ■' L 


i^Mili^ 



C. S. HOWARD 
Came in 1843 











WnXIAM STICK 
Came in 1853 



THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION 



73 



*Smith, Darwin, Mariitii 
Smith, R^ichel U., Marion 
Smith, Ijouisa, Cedar Rapids 
•SnoutVer, J. J., Cedar lUpids 
Snyder. Marion D., Bertram 
Tathwell, Josie, Marion 
Webb, Alice A., IMarion 
Webb, Milas, Jlarion 
Wel)h. Sophia, ^Marion 
West, Mrs. .1. B.. Jlarion 
White, Auorustiis. Cedar Rapids 
•Wbitenaek. J. W., Marion 
Whitenack. Mrs. J., Kenwood Park 
•Wilson, John, Marion 
Wilson, J no. M., Cedar Rapids 
Young, Lewis, Lisbon 

1853 
•Anderson, J. S., Cedar Rapids 
Benedict, L. D., Cedar Rapids 
Berrj', Xaney, Bertram 
Beechley, N. K.. Cedar Rapids 
♦Bishop", Seth, Central City 
•Bolton, Su.san, Paralta 
Booth, L. G., Marion 
Breneman, Mrs. S. A., .Marion 
*Bro\TO, W. IL, Springville 
Brown. Mrs. W. II., Sprin<r\ille 
Bruner, Emma, Cedar Rapids 
Burt, :Mi-s. L. W.. Cedar Rapids 
Buttolph. Edwin. Cedar Rapids 
Calvert, Amanda J.. Springville 
Certain, Wilson. :\Iarion 
•Cornell, J. D., Springville 
Cory. Abel L., Marion 
•Cory. Daniel M., ^Marion 
Cory". Samuel E.. Cedar Rapids 
Coult.T. John. C'edar Rapids 
Crawford. Geo. E.. Cedar Rai)ids 
Crogan. Thoma.s, Cedar Rapids 
Crowl. Jacob, Marion 
■ Dixon. Mrs. Harriett. Cedar Rapids 
Evans. Hattie. Central City 
Fawley. Hannah, Spring\-ille 
Fawley, Samuel, Springville 
•Fitzgarrald. W. F., ^Iari(m 
Fleming, Julia, Alburnett 
Floyd. Jacob. Center Point 
•Forsythe, II. -NI., Cedar Riipids 
Forsythe. Mrs. H. M., Cedar Rapids 
Goudv, Mrs. L. A.. Marion 
Goldsberrj-. W. N.. Central City 
•Graul. Daniel, Lisbon 
•Harris, Richard, Marion 
•Ilayden, Z. L., Cedar Rapids 
•Henderson. J. W.. Cedar Rapids 



Hendrickson. F. .M.. ("enter Point 
Hall. O. S.. Marion 
Hunter, Harriet E., .Marion 
Johnston, Mary. Mt. Vemou 
•Keams, John A.. Springville 
Kyle, W. II., .Mt. Vernon 
King. Wui.. Cedar Rapids 
Lamscm. Eva. Marion 
Lathrop. Virgil A.. .Marion 
•Lockhart, Robert. Cedar Rapids 
Lord, Clara, Fairfa.x 
Mansh, Harriett, Robins 
*McAfee, D. T.. Marion 
•Mentz. Michael, Cedar Itapids 
Mentzer, Samuel, Center Point 
Jletcalf, Mrs. C. P., Cedar Rapids 
Moliler, ;\Iary S.. Lafayette 
Moreland. Jolui. Central City 
McCrelles, Z.. Central City 
Myers, W. IL, Cedar Rapids 
Oliphaiit. Perinelia, Todd\-ille 

Oxley. Marshall. Marion 
Pennington. J. .M., Alhurnette 

Phelps. Sarah B., Covington 

Rickard. C, Cedar Rapids 

Ring. W. C. Center Point 

Schultz. Chas., Marion 

Scott. T. W., Marion 

•Smith. John T.. Cedar Rapids 

Smith. Dr. J. II. . Cedar Rapids 

Smyth. Jay J., IMarion 

•Stark. Laurance. ]Mari(m 

•Stentz, Peter A., Springville 

Stick, Wm., Lafayette 

Stockberger. John R.. ^Marion 

Thompson. Wm. G.. JIarion 

Thoring. Samuel. Bertram 

Treat. Mi-s. D. J.. Marion 

"Wagner. Geo., Toddville 

Ware, ]\Iary E., Coggon 

Weed. Egbert, Marion 

•White, Crawford, Marion 

Whitenack. Sarah J.. IMarion 

•Wilson. Polly. Marion 

White. James F.. Albumette 
White. X. J., :Marion 

Wilson. John II., Marion 
•Yount, Broxton. Mt. Vernon 

1854 
Adams. ^Margaret. Marion 
•Armstrong. W. B.. Marion 
Au.stin. Wm. A.. Marion 
Bartleson. J. M.. Center Point 
Bauman. Simon IL. Mt. Vernon 
Bombardner. Mi-s. C, Cedar Rapids 



74 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



Beach, B. F., Mt. Vemon 
Bedell. Elwood T., Spring^'iUe 
Bice. Isaac, Troy Mills 
Bice, James, West Prairie 
*Bisliop, Heni-j' 0.. Waubeek 
*Blackmar, Augustus. Jlarion 
Blodgett, Simpson, Central City 
*Braska, Louise. IMarion 
Braska. C. W., ]Ma.rion 
*Busby, Geo., Marion 
Busby, B. C, Marion 
Butcher, A. P., Paralta 
Cadwell. Edwin, Cedar Rapids 
*Cadwell. IMary. Covington 
Cairns, W. A., Ely 
*Cambum, J. H., Cedar Rapids 
Carawav. John S.. Bertram 
Carlin, Geo. W., Cedar Rapids 
Carpenter, Mary A.. Cedar Rapids 
*Carsner. Mathia.s, Marion 
*Conklin, Chauneey, Prairieburg 
Cornell, Amy, Springville 
Cory. James. Robins 
Cutler, Eva G., Central City 
*Davis, Geo. A.. Jr.. Central City 
*Davis. J. C, Marion 
Davis. Jas. H., Central City 
Dawley. Darius, Cedar Rapids 
Dawlev. John. Marshalltown 
*DeWitt. J. v.. Martelle 
Edgerly. Geo. C. Central City 
Elrod. Jonathan. IMarion 
Ellis, ]\rartha. Cedar Rapids 
Ellis, Levi, Spring\'ille 
Fav, H. H., Troy Mills 
Fitzgerrald. ^Tary A.. Cedar Rapids 
*Floyd. Geo. W.. IMarion 
*Ford. B. S.. Marion 
Ford, Margaret. IMarion 
Fowler, S. J.. Marion 
Goodlove. W. H.. Marion 
*Goldsberry. Mrs. A. M.. Marion 
Groll. Geo. F.. IMarion 
*6itehell. Chas. G.. Waubeek 
Heaton, Marj' A., Central City 
Ileaton, Olive. Cedar Rapids 
*Heaton, Samuel, Cedar Rapids 
Henderson, Henrv'. Coggon 
Henderson. P. G.. Central City 
*Hess, Abraham. Clarion 
*Heer, Mary, Mariou 
*Hollis, Elizabeth C. IMarion 
Huston. Chas. A.. Waubeek 
Huston, James ]M.. Waubeek 
Johnson, Wm., Marion 



"Jones. Wm.. Marion 
Kaiser, John L., IMarion 
Kennedy, C. B., Marion 
Kennedy, Mrs. C. B., Marion 
Kimball", Emma J., Springville 
Kinkead, Alexander, Springville 
*Kleinlaiecht, Geo., Mt. Vemon 
Klumph. V. G., Marion 
Knowlton, Fred, Seattle, Wash. 
Knickerbocker. W. B.. Cedar Rapids 
*Lacock. Joab, Mt. Vernon 
Lacock, Wm.. A., Martelle 
♦Lillie. Mary, Marion 
Lord. Clara. Fairfax 
Lord. Lydia, Cedar Rapids 
Lord, Robert, Cedar Rapids 
Lutz, John E.. Kenwood 
jManson. Dwight, Marion 
*]Marshall. S. H.. Viola 
♦Marshall, Mrs. S. H.. Viola 
*Martin, F. M.. Center Point 
^lason. Edwin R.. Marion 
IMcIntyre. Z.. Mound City, Kans. 
McKay, John U.. Cedar Rapids 
*McFarlin, J. J.. jMt. Vernon 
IMcLord. Maggie. Central City 
Melton. Nancy, ilarion 
Melton. P. T.. Marion 
*Moody, Philip, Cedar Rapids 
Mentzer, B. F.. Marion 
Mentzer, IMrs. B. F.. IMarion 
*Mentzer, C. C, Marion 
IMiles. L. W.. IMarion 
*Miles, Geo.. Robins 
Moles. Robert INL. Paris 
*Myers, J. V.. Mt. Vernon 
Neff, M. K., Mt. Vemon 
Nye,' John W.. Cedar Rapids 
O'dell. Lewis H., Mt. Vernon 
Oxley. Mrs. H. C. ISIarion 
Palmer. H. G.. Marion 
Parr, Geo., Cedar Rapids 
•Pearson. Geo.. Springville 
Pearson, Hanna K.. Springville 
Pearson. IMary. Spring\'ille 
Pearson, 0. J.. Springville 
♦Pearson, Thomas. Springville 
*Pearson. Wm.. Spring\'ille 
Pearson. Margaret A.. Viola 
*Penn. Rebecca T., Viola 
Penn, R. R.. Viola 
*Penn. S. J . Central City 
Penn, Wm. B.. Central City 
Platner. Henry C. Mt. Vemon 
Plumlv. Chas. 0.. Waubeek 



THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION 



75 



•Reete, lleniy, Troy Mills 
Reeee, Lucia, Troy Mills 
Khoten, Chas. W., Viola 
Kicli. Allie, Marion 
^Richard, 1). II., Cedar Rapids 
Riley. Allie, Marion 
•Ross, .lames G., Marion 
'Reynolds, J. W., Contor Point 
Rogers, Mary C, Cedar Rapids 
Riuilvle, AI)rahani, Lisbon 
Runkle, A. J., Cedar Rapids 
"Samson, E. L., Marion 
*.Sainson, Catherine, Marion 
•Scott, J. B., Marion 
•Scott, ^larj- E.. .Marion 
Secrist, Alice, Marion 
''Simp.son, S., Clarion 
Sawyer. Ebner, Central Citv 
Sheet.s, Geo. W., Palo 
Smitli, John, Cedar Riipids 
Siuitli, S. G., Cedar Rapids 
Swolloni, M., Solon 
Snyder, Elias, Cedar Rapids 
Snyder, Jlichael, Mt. Vernon 
•^Snyder, Thos. G., Robins 
Stentz, Peter, Paralta 
•Staddon, James, Marion 
Stratford, John, Palo 
Strite, Levi, Anamosa 
•Stflwe, Leonard, AFarion 
Swan, Emma, Marion 
Taylor, D. C. Central Citv 
•Thomas. O. E., Cedar Rapids 
Tn>at. Garry. Marion 
"Vance, Willis, Cedar Rapids 
Walser, John, Marion 
Weeks, "\V. II., Cofiisron 
Whiteonib, Mary E.. Marion 
Withei-s. Caroline. Marion 
•Williams. Mrs. iM. C, :\Iarion 
Wilson, Thomas R.. Waterloo 
•Wifrgin. Geo. W., Waubeek 
•Wink, Samuel, Lisbon 
W^ilson, Wm., Lafayette 
Winsor. James R.. Walker 
•Yearick, Dr. S. W., Cedar Rapids 

1855 
Adams, A., Lafayette 
Adams, Hudson, Marion 
•Ashlock, Geo. W.. Center Point 
A.shlock, J. iM., Center Point 
Ashlock. llaroraret J.. Center Point 
Basset. Thomas, Cedar Rapids 
Beall. Delia X.. Marion 
"Becks. John. Marion 



*Beatty, Andrew, Mt. Vernon 
Bever, Rachel F., Viola 
Beechley, N. K., Cedar Rapids 
Biggs, E. J., Troy Mills 
Bigsby, Mary A.. Marion 
Black, JMrs. John. .Marion 
Blodgett, Austin, Central City 
Blodgett, Maria L., Central City 
Blodgett, Sarah F., Waubeek 
Bowdish, Sarah F., Waubeek 
Brown, W. L., Viola 
"Buck, Daniel. Cedar Rajjids 
Burcliell, Sarah M.. Marion 
•Burtis, Wni., Clarion 
Burroughs. X. E., Marion 
Busenbark. Alfred. Marion 
•Burtis, Elizabeth B., Paris 
•Bumgardner, Geo., Cedar Rapids 
Cain, Sallie, Palo 
Cain, S. W\, Palo 

Chambers, Mrs. J. M.. Cedar Rapids 
•Collin. Henry A., Mt. Venion 
Cone, Sarah E.. .Marion 
•Cook, Geo., Marion 
Cook, Mrs. Geo., ]Marion 
Crosby, A. T.. Central City 
Davis, L. L., Cedar Rflpids 
Davis, IMinnie C, Marion 
Dean, Rachel M., Clarion 
*Dix, A. W., Coggon 
*Dix, Sylvanus, Coggon 
•Dunn, Pheobe C, j\Iari(m 
•Dunn, Wm.. Marion 
•Elrod. Kate. Marion 
•Ellsberry. Z. V.. .Alarion 
Ennnons. Wm.. Clarion 
•Elrod, F. :\I.. Bertram 
Evans, Adam, Paris 
Evans, E. II.. Marion 
•Fairchilds, J. IL, Coggon 
Finson, Lee R., Central City 
Ford, Frank, (^^ntral City 
Glover, Agnes. Clarion 
Glover. Wm. ('.. JIarion 
•Granger, F^arl. Marion 
•Gray, Martha J.. Marion 
Grant, John. Clarion 
Gray, S. E.. Jlarion 
Goodyear. A. E.. Mt. Vernon 
•Ilahn, Elias S.. Lisbon 
•Harkness, Margaret, Marion 
Hale, E. S.. Cedar Rapids 
•Ilale, Josiah, Cedar Rapids 
Hale, John P.. Cedar Rapids 
•Hawk, John. Marion 



76 



HISTORY OF LINX COUNTY 



Helbig, Fred A.. Lafayette 
Hayden. Elma Jane, Bertram 
Henry, Lizzie, Robins 
*Houver, Sadie C, Marion 
Hunter, W. H., Cedar Rapids 
Inks, ]\[rs. L. A.. Mt. Vernon 
Inks. M. L.. Mt. Vernon 
Ives. John J.. ^Marion 
*Jackson. J. W.. Springville 
Jeffries, A.. Troy Mills 
Jeffries, Elizabeth. Troy Mills 
Johnson, James, Cedar Rapids 
Kearn, Joseph, ^Marion 
Kettering. A., ilarion 
Kinkead. Geo., Springville 
Kinkead, ]\Iary J.. Springville 
Knapp, Henry J.. Bertram 
Lewis, T. J., Cedar Rapids 
Lam.son, Wm. H., Jlarion 
Le%vis, Chas.. Orange City 
Lilly. Joseph. Cedar Rapids 
Marshall. Lucretia. Central City 
Martin. Rilla H.. Troy ililLs 
Martin, Thos. C. Robins 
Mason. F. P.. Toddville 
McFarland. Wm., j\It. Vernon 
]\IcDowle, W. K.. Cedar Rapids 
McKean, Allen B., Marion 
Milner, Wm. T.. Marion 
Mills. Sylvester X.. ilarion 
Mitchell, Mrs. Eliza. ]Marion 
Moorhead. James. Marion 
*Moorhead, Joseph, [Marion 
•Myers, John A., Lisbon 
Morrow, L. E.. Marion 
Newlin, Geo., Viola 
Neff. A. G.. Mt. Vernon 
North, G.. Mt. Vernon 
*Oakley, M. M., Marion 
Oaklev, Susan M.. Marion 
Oxley^ John C. Troy Mills 
Oxley. Marguerite. Marion 
*Parmenter. i\L. Marion 
Parmenter, S. A., ]\Iarion 
Paul. Mrs. Alex. Marion 
Patmore, Henry, Marion 
*Pfeiffer, Christopher. Marion 
Potter, Mar>' A.. Marion 
Pett\-. Chas. H.. Jit. Vernon 
Porter. H. G.. Central City 
Potter, Charlotte. Walker 
Potter, J. B., Marion 
Ray. John H.. Palo 
Robins, J. D., Robins 
Rogers. Mary C. Cedar Rapids 



Schafer, Jacob, Fairfax 
Sehultz, Henry, Marion 
Sisam, Henry, Walker 
Smith, Martha G., Cedar Rapids 
Smith, -Milo P., Cedar Rapids 
Smith. Rebecca, Central City 
*Smith, Robert, Mt. Vernon 
Smytli, Robert. ]Marion 
*Suyder, A.. Center Point 
Stark, Andrew. Cedar Rapids 
Stark, Mary, Cedar Rapids 
•Stephens, Louisa, Chicago 
•Stookey, Levi S., Marion 
*Sutzin, Elizabeth, Marion 
*Sutzin, Henry, Marion 
Tordoft'. Geo., Marion 
•Tomlinson, Joe. Cedar Rapids 
Van Fossen, J. R., Marion 
•Vosburg, Eva, Marion 
Ware, E. L., Coggon 
Webb, Alice A.. Marion 
Whitcomb, Cahnn. Clarion 
•Whitenack. Joseph. Marion 
AVhitenack, Mary J., Marion 
•Whitney. Joseph. Prairieburg 
*Wiggins. James. Waubeek 
•Wilson. John, Marion 
Wilson, L. L., Center Point 
•Willis. A. L.. Coggon 
•Winsor. F. E., Marion 
Winter, Stillman L.. Clarion 
Winans, II. W.. Spring\'ille 
•Yost, C. A., Center Point 
Yost, F. M.. Center Point 
Young. Louis. Minneapolis 
Young, Mrs. J. B., [Minneapolis 
•Young, S. K., Mt. Vernon 
•Yuill. James, Cedar Rapids 

1856 
•Alexander. Anna A., Marion 
•Avers. Lvman M., Cedar Rapids 
•Allen, M. B.. Marion 
Bailey, Anna C. Springville 
Barrett, T. M.. Waubeek 
Barrj-, W. II.. Bertram 
Beaeii. Lucy. ]Mt. Vernon 
Berryhill. Kate M.. [Marion 
Bishop. Louise. Waubeek 
Blackford. John. [Marion 
Boudinot. E. V.. Western College 
•Bowman. Ben.jamin. [Marion 
Bowman. Eliza. [Marion 
Bowdish, I. P.. Waubeek 
Bowdish. J. W., Des Moines 
Bowdish. Sarah A.. Waubeek 




THE VARDY HOUSE, CEDAR RAPIDS 




FRANKLIN BLOCK AND RESIDENCE OF P. W. EARLE 
First Brick House in Cedar Rapids 




THE LISTKBARGER CABIN. CEDAR RAI'IDS 
Showing Semi-Centcnnial Exercises in 1906 



THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCLVTIOX 



/ 1 



Bowdish, S. L., Waubppk 
Bowdish, S. L.. Central City 
Booze, Leander, Cedar Rapids 
Brown, R. C, Marion 
Bniek. R. G., Cedar Rapids 
Brundt. Rosalia, Wanl>eek 
Biuiting. if. E.. Marion 
Bunting, C, ]\Iarion 
Busby. Cora C.. Marion 
•Byram. Seth. Paris 
Cottle. Eliza. Marion 
•Cronk, J. T., iMarion 
•Davis. Wm. C, Martelle 
Dawson. Daniel K.. Clarion 
•Dingrman. D. A., Cedar Rapids 
Dripps, Geo., Mart«lle 
•Elliott, J. J.. Marion 
Elliott, M. L., Grand Rapids. Mieh. 
Elsberry, Sarah J., Marion 
•Emberson, Andrew. Marion 
•Emberson, John, Marion 
•Engli.sh, Josie P.. Wanbeek 
Etzel, Levi, Alburnette 
Everhart, S. S., Mt. Vernon 
Fordyce, C. Cedar Rajiids 
Fordyee. Kate. Cedai- Rapids 
Gibson, B. W., Clarion 
Gibson, James, Springville 
•Gib.son, J. K.. ^farion 
•Gibson, Lewis, INfarion 
•Gill, Jacob A.. Marion 
•Gilchrist. C. Walker 
•Giffen, James D., Marion 
•Giflfen, Thomas M., Marion 
•GiflFen, Wm. M.. Central t'itv 
Gooley. Mrs. F. E., Central City 
•Grand, John. Marion 
Halstead. W. C, Prairieburpr 
Harvev. Mrs. A., Cedar Rapids 
•Ilatcii, E. K.. Central Citv 
•Ila.vs. J. D.. Palo 
Hoontz, Philip, Marion 
Howe, M. W.. Marion 
Huffman. James ^I.. Marion 
•Huffman, ilrs. J. M.. Marion 
Johnson. 0. S.. SprinfZA'ille 
Jones, ilrs. L. E.. Marion 
Jones. Jlrs. M. B., Marion 
Kjiickerbocker, E. H., Fairfax 
Kerns, Valentine, Paralta 
•Kettering. J. H., Lisbon 
•Kinkead, James, Springville 
Kelsey, H. M., Cedar Rapids 
•Kirkpatrick, James. Mt. Vernon 
Kramer. W. S.. Marion 



Lake, Mrs. E., Marion 
Leonard. John. Kenwood 
•Lapham, II. M., Cedar Rapids 
licntz, Lucia A.. Cedar Rapids 
Lillie, Ida L., Clarion 
Lord, Thomas, Fairfax 
•Lj'ons. Amos, Alburnette 
*Mack. Mrs. W. B., Cedar Rapids 
Maier, Jacob, Lafa.vette 
•Mai-shall, Alex S., Marion 
Martin, Electa. .Marion 
Mason, ]\Iary E., JIarion 
•Mathes, Anna. Marion 
*Mathes, Ben. ]\Lirion 
McCalley, Luncinda. Marion 
•McConahy. F. A.. JIarion 
iMeCallev. Marshall, Marion 
McKean", E. W.. .Marion 
McKean. Mrs. General, Marion 
McKean, Phebe L.. Marion 
*'McKeel, A. M.. Fairfax 
•Mefford. Sarah, Cedar Rapids 
Meeker, Henry, Central City 
:\Ieeker. Henry R., Central City 
Miner, Samuel. Cedar Rapids 
Mobey, F. B.. Palo 
Jloles. John D.. Central City 
.Moore, C. R., Viola 
Moore, Wm., Viola 
Moore, Wm. K.. Springville 
.\ash. Isaac. Springville 
Ncwlin, H. X., Viola 
•Needles. Geo. H., Kenwood 
•Xull. J. .M., Cedar Rapids 
*Owen, Luther P.. Clarion 
Owen, Rachel. Wanbeek 
Parkhurst, Mary' E.. Marion 
Perkins, Marv C. Marion 
Pearson. L. H., Viola 
Pherrin. M. C, Springville 
Pherrin, Will II.. S|M-ingvillc 
Platncr. Ilcniy C. Mt. Wrnon 
Plummer, Talbert. Marion 
Post, M. C. Viola 
*Rahn, B. G., Marion 
•Rahn. Rebecca. Marion 
•Rsithbun. Nelson. Marion 
Reichard, Ben R.. JIarion 
•Reichard. J. G., Marion 
Richard, Emma T.. Cedar Rapids 
Robertson. Frank B.. Viola 
•Rogers. W. II.. Covington 
•Runkle. Adam. Lislxin 
Sanborn, J. W.. Center Point 
•Sehrimper, Fred, Cedar Rapids 



78 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



Schadle, Jacob, vSpriua:\'ille 
Schadle, ^Mrs. Jacol), Sprin^'iUe 
Seott, II. A.. Jlarion 
*Shakespear, A. B.. SpringviUe 
Schantz, Geo. W., Cedar Rapids 
♦Shaver, I. H., Cedar Rapids 
Smith, A. W., Cedar Rapids 
Smith, Henry B., Cedar Rapids 
Spencer, Ellen J., Cedar Rapids 
Stilson, Luther, Cedar Rapids 
Stilson, Eleanor. Cedar Rapids 
Stinger, Harriet. ^Marion 
Stiuson, E. B., :Marion 
Tanner, T. C, Palo 
Taylor, E. P., Marion 
Thomas, James, JMarion 
Thomas, Wm. xV., Cedar Rapids 
Thompson, Augusta, ilartelle 
Thompson, Geo., Mt. Vernon 
♦Thompson, Geo. W., Mt. Vernon 
Thorn, Wm. A., Cedar Rapids 
Travis. Mrs. R. J., Marion 
Usher, J. P., Cedar Rapids 
^Wallace, Leroy, Cedar Rapids 
Ware, A. J., Coggon 
*Waterhouse, Henry S., Coggon 
Webb, S., Center Point 
Winsor, H. C, Walker 
Wright, Charles, Paralta 
Wynn, Geo. W., Cedar Rapids 
Wood, Chas. C, Paralta 

1857 
Atwood, John E., Troy Mills 
Barrett, Philip, Central City 
Bennett, Clara Waulieek 
Berrj', Almanda, R., Bertram 
Bowdish, Laura, E., Waubeek 
Burnett, A. C, Albumett 
♦Carpenter, Nancy M., Clarion 
Davis, A. F., Central City 
Davis, H. E., Central City 
Chesmore, Mrs. E. E., Coggon 
♦Gritman, John P.. SpringviUe 
Gritman, J. C, SpringviUe 
Gritman, Hannah B., Sprmgville 
Henderson, Hannah, Coggon 
Henderson, Geo.. Cedar Rapids 
Heller, Chas., Lisbon, 
*Hickey, John, Marion 
Ingham, E. A., Marion 
Kirlcpatriek, R., l\It. Vernon 
♦Leach, A. P., Marion 
♦Leach, Harriet, Marion 
Listerbarger, Frank, Marion 
Lutz, George, Kenwood 



Manahan, E. G.. Kenwood 
:\Ientzer, Geo. W., Robins 
Mentzer, S. W., Robins 
Mentzer, B. W., Robins 
JIarshall, C. IL, Marion 
Newman, C. R., Cedar Rapids 
Patterson, U. L., Central City 
Pearsole, C, Walker 
Phelps, H. H., Covington 
Phillips, F. M., Coggon 
Powers, Mary E., Paris 
*Rawlins, Samuel, Viola 
Richards, :\lrs. E.. Cedar Rapids 
Robbins. Anna, ]\Iartelle 
♦Robinson, Johu, ^Marion 
Rundall, J. C, Viola 
♦Simkius. Allen G.. ^Marion 
Simkins. James T.. Marion 

Snvder, Jacob, Alburnette 

♦Snyder, ilartha. :\lt. Vernon 

Stoiieking, J. R., ^Marion 

Stoneking, T. C, :\Iarion 

Ubel, F.. Cedar Rapids 

Vaughn, Elizabeth P., IMarion 

Vaughn. L. P., Marion 

♦Warner, E. A., Waubeek 

Warner, Laura, Waubeek 

Webb, Chas.. Center Point 

White, Editha, Marion 

AVhitney, G. F., Prairieburg 

Withers, Frank B., Marion 

Williams, T. T., Marion 

Wilson, DeWitt C, Viola 

Witter, P. E., Mt. Vernon 

1858 
Bromwell. J. E., Marion • 
♦Briibaker. Hattie A., Cedar Rapids 
Chrisman, Man- J., Albumett 
♦Coenen, Joseph, IMarion 
Collin. Alonzo, :\It. Vernon 
Grauel, Sarah, :Marion 
Gibson, J. W., Marion 
Good, Henry, Kenwood 
Kemp, E. L., JIarion 
Lake. C. S., Marion 
♦Love, J. S., Spring\-il!e 
♦Mack, Walter B.. Cedar Rapids 
♦McKean. J. B., Clarion 
Minehart, L. E.. Central City 
Moore. Jos., Cedar Rapids 
Rudolph. S. L., Cedar Rapids 
Strite, Mrs. Mar\' E., SpringviUe 
Stoneking, M. E., Marion 
Ware, Milo L., Coggon 
Wliit«nack, E. P., Robins 



THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCL\TIOX 



79 



1859 
Blakoly, I. M.. Paris 
Breed, M., Des Moines 
Cline, Isaac, AnaiiiDsa 
Fleming, Wiu., Albuniett 
Forest, R. D., Central City 
Greer, Annetta, Clarion 
•Hood. John B., Wauheek 
Kin<r, Marv A., Cedar Kapids 
McCorkle. C. A., Toddville 
Owens, Carl X.. Marion 
•Vanlst, M., Toddville 
Vanote, JL, Toddville 
Vaiiprhn. Laura, Clarion 
•Wilson, Jas. B.. Marion 
West, I. X., Mt. Vernon 
Yount, D. W., xMarion 

18fi() 
Applefxate, W. II., Marion 
Cline, M. M.. Olin 
Cline. E. B.. Springville 
Dows. Col. W. G.. Cedar Rapids 
Everhart, Ida E., JMt. Vernon 
Johnson, I. V.. Marion 
Knapp, J. W., Marion 
*Lillie, Geo. A.. Marion 
Mann, ili-s. Aliee. Spring^-ille 
Mann, Luev, Springville 
Matheny, T., Toddville 
O'Herron. Mrs. :\Iaggie. Marion 
Parker, Ennna ^lurray. Marion 
•Secrist. Chas. V.. Marion 
Seaton, B. F., Marion 

1861 
•Burns. Ahhie, Central City 
•Burnside, Geo. W., Coggon 
•Freisinger, I)., .Marion 
Garnett. J. C, .Alarioii 
•Ilollis, C. M., Marion 
Hartley, S. H., Cedar Rapids 
.McDowle. E. E., Cedar I{apids 
Kinknead. Margaret. Spring\ille 
Petticord. Sarah. ;\It. \'i'nion 
Scott, Ed M., Cedar Rapids 
Seerist, Albert M.. Marion 
•Secrist. Susan B.. Marion 
Tatlnvell. E. E., Cedar Rapids 
Thoniius, Mary J.. Marion 
Winter, W. S.. Marion 

1862 
Goodlovo. Mrs. S.. Central City 
Smith, Mrs. Olive, Marion 
Torrence, Nellie B., Marion 



Weis, H. J., Marion 
Wickham. W. F., Wauheek 

1863 
Cherry, Jos., Walker 
Cherry, Susan, Walker 
Christnum. L. B., Springville 
Daniels, J. F., Cedar Rapids 
Davis, W. L., Cedar Rapids 
Deacon, C. J., Cedar Rapids 
Freer, H. IL, Mt. Vernon 
Gibson, JIarv, L.. Marion 
Gill, Chas.. Marion 
Ilagerman, R. II., Toddville 
N'evvland, II. X.. Marion 
Oxley, Mi-s. James, Clarion 
•Palmer, Wm. A., Paralta 
Palmer, E. E., Cedar Rapids 
Spencer, Chas. H.. Cedar Rapids 

1864 
•Aldrich, Mrs. Hannah. Cedar Rapids 
Carpenter, Claude. Marion 
Carpent^»r, W. B.. Clarion 
Doolittle, E.. Central Citv 
•Dodge, G. F., Fairfa.x 
Fernow, Owen S., Marion 
Fishell, P. II., Marion 
Garrison. Edwin. [Marion 
Ilindman, D. R.. Marion 
*IIindman, Mrs. ;\I. J., Marion 
Hall. S. .M.. Cedar Rapids 
llorton. W. R.. Marion 
Horn. W. R.. Cedar Kapids 
Horn. F. M., Jlarion 
Horn. J. W.. Cedar Rapids 
•MeClain, W. H., Marion 
Murray, S. G., Marion 
Shumack. V. 6., Marion 
Snyder. Geo. L., Marion 
Travis. Jas. B., Marion 
Weis, Louis. Marion 

186.1 
Booth, John M.. Marion 
Burns, S. C.. Marion 
Burns, G. W.. JIarion 
Burke. Mary, Marion 
Faulk, Jonathan. ^Marion 
Gilinore. David. Marion 
Horn. Jennie. Cedar Rapids 
Hunter. Mrs. Samiu-l. Robins 
Kariiiody. Wm.. Sjiringville 
Kearns. Mrs. E. E.. Springville 
Mann, J. IL, Marion 
Perry, W. J., Central City 
Searls. J. M., Cedar Rapids 



80 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



Searls, Mrs. J. ^M., Cedar Rapids 
Savage. Mack. Coggon 
Starbuek, J. A.. :Mariori 
Stemberger, Mary, Lisbon 
*Voss, Christian, ilarion 
Tanner, Addie, Palo 
"Wilson. A. H.. Springville 
"White. L. E.. JIarion 
"Wiltsev. .M., Center Point 
Wiltsey, .Mrs. C. V., Center Point 

1866 
Armstrong, S. C, Cedar Rapids 
Baird, ^M. 0., Palo 
Birdsall, C. H., Marion 
Calder, C. A.. Cedar Rapids 
*Coquillette, A. C, Coggon 
Good, Jas. W., Cedar Rapids 
Isaacs. J.. "Walker 
John>son, Adelade L., Marion 
Johnson. Oliver S.. Marion 
Lessard, Clara A.. Ileber, Ark. 
Malone, Mrs. Fannie. Spring\nlle 
JIcAUister, John. Cedar Rapids 
*Powers, E. D., Elmont 
Redmond. John, Cedar Rapids 
Scott, n. A., Clarion 
Teeters. ]\[. J., Clarion 
Todd, Geo. "W.. Marion 
"Ward, P. K., Cedar Rainds 
"Ward. ]\Iarv E., Cedar Rapids 
*"Weller, "W": L., Cedar Rapids 
Witwer, B. H., Cedar Rapids 
Wolf, G. P., Cedar Rapids 

1867 
Anderson. Lew "W., Cedar Rapids 
Cleveland, F. J., Marion 
Coqiiillette, A. W., Coggon 
Graves, J. G.. Cedar Rapids 
Ilealey. L. j\L, Cedar Rapids 
Howard, T. C. Cedar Rapids 
Kassler, Jlrs. Peter, IMarion 
Lopata. Ernest. Mt. Vernon 
Minor, R. L.. ]\Iarion 
Nagle, Jacob. Marion 
Plummer, Amos. Springville 
Taylor. H. N.. Marion 
"Wing. Martha, Cedar Rapids 
Yapels, J. C, Sutton, Neb. 
Yapels, Mrs. R. C, Sutton, Neb. 

1868 
Foster. E. F., Cedar Rapids 
Francis, Mrs. P. 11.. Cedar Rapids 
Hamilton. J. T.. Cedar Rapids 
Jenkins. Mrs. C. P.. Cedar Rapids 



*Jenkins, L. E.. Cedar Rapids 
Kubias, Frank, Cedar Rapids 
ilichel, J. B.. Marion 
Robinson. J. D.. ^^larion 
"Watt, John R., Cedar Rapids 
"Wild. David, Springville 
Wild, Mary A., Springville 
Wenig. Geo. K., Cedar Rapids 

1869 
*Barnhill, Joseph, ]\Iarion 
Barahill, Sarah E., JIarion 
Benley, Charity, Viola 
Biggs, C. W.. ]\Iarion 
*Bourne, N. P.. Cedar Rapids 
Clogston, Anna "SI., ]\Iarion 
*Clogst«n, T. P.. :\ra.rion 
Femow, F. P., Marion 
Hart, T. J.. Center Point 
*Rowe. J. D.. JIarion 
*Rowe. Mrs. J. D.. Marion 
Sailor, Geo. D., Springville 
Shellhammer, D. W., Springville 

1870 
Anderson, John B., Cedar Rapids 
Donnan. W. J., Cedar Rapids 
Emerson. C. P., Cedar Rapids 
Fitzgerald. R. N., JIarion 
Plattenburger, P. L.. Lislion 
*Powell. J. J., Cedar Rapids 
Ring. H. C, Clarion 

1871 
Senninger, P. W., Marion 
Yocum, Edd. Springville 

1872 
Beck. C. C, :\Larion 
Berry, J. C. Fairfax 
Emmerson. J. W., Cedar Rapids 
Holsinger. J. B.. ilarion 
Maudsley. Jlrs. John W.. Palo 
Plummer. Mrs. C. C. Mt. Vernon 
Parker, Mary E., Marion 
Reiter, A. J.. Marion 
Ruliek. Joseph. ]Marion 
Scott. Bently. Marion 
Scott. Chas. ]\r.. iMarion 
Stark. Eliza J.. ;\rarion 
Swem, Edd L., Cedar Rapids 

1873 
Coenen, Wm.. Marion 
Courtney. Marlin W.. Clarion 
Carroll, "C. D., :\larion 
Healy, E. T., Cedar Rapids 
Holmes Frank, Marion 





MR. AND MRS. GODFREY QUASS 
Came in 1849 



MR. AND MRS. WM. GIDDINGS 
Came in 1852 




MK. AND MRS. ISAAC MILLBURN 
Early Settlers 




MR. AND MRS. W. A. LACOCK 
Came in 18.')4 





J. 1". GLASS 
Early Pioneer 



F. A. HELBIG 
Came in 1853 



OLD SETTLEKS' ASSOCIATION 



81 



Seott, Sadie J., Mario!i 
Johnson, Edward. Cedar Radips 
Johnson, ^laggie. Cedar Kapids 

1875 and Later 
•Bach, Mrs. C, Clarion 
Busby, Geo. I]., IMarion 
Huzza, Geo., JIarion 
Coenen, Ben, Marion 
Davis, T. J., ^Marion 
Dennis, A. Z.. Walker 
Dennis, Mary L., Walker 
Gates, p]lizai)eth, Marion 
Gates, W. A., Marion 
Hall, J. E., Marion 
Jellison, Ernest C, Marion 
Johnson, M. F., Marion 
Kassler, Peter, Jlarion 
LaGrange, Dr. J. W., JIarion 
Love, Richard, Clarion 
^fercer, B. IL, Marii n 
Parker. Edd Jr.. .Marion 
I'ars' lis. Effie. M irioii 
Perrin Ruth G., Springville 
Rathlmn, D. W, JIari(,n 
Sargeant, D. E., j\L-iriou 
•Sergeant, Harriett JI.. Jfarion 
Sikora. Otto, Cedar Rapids 
Taylor, Mrs. J. S., Cedar Rapids 
Unangst, J II . Clarion 
Vannote, W. A., Cedar Rapids 
Webber, Thos., Marion 
White, Marv Alice. Marion 



Recent Members Enrolled 

Allen, Geo. W., Bertram 

Bailey, J. ^f., Marion 

Burges.s, .Martin. Marion 

Busby, Fred K., Marion 

Canedy, Leroy. Marion 

Careir, J. E., Clarion 

Clark, P. 0., Marion 

Cunningham, Mrs. F. A., Marion 

Daniels, J. D., Springville 

Deacon, Svloid Jl.. Cedar Rapids 

Dill, Isabelle, Cedar Hapids 

Groinmon, Chas., Marion 

Heir, A. A.. Marion 

Hess, J. T., Marion 

Holland, J. W., Center Point 

Holland. Jfrs. R. A., Center Point 

King. J. K., ^^arion 

Maddo, Win., .Marion 

:\rau(lslev, J. W.. Palo 

Miller, f hos., :\rarion 

Mitchell, C. E., Marion 

Mitchell, John, Jr., JIarion 

^Inrray. Mrs. R. C, Ifarion 

Xiliill, Lizzie, Cedar Rapids 

Schultz, P. F., Marion 

Straley, A. W.. Marion 

Tetiiow, E. L., JIarion 

Temow, Jlrs. E. L., JLarion 

Turner, John B., Cedar Rapids 

Tunier, ^farj- B., Cedar Rapids 

Van Tossen, Mrs. A. L., Central City 



CHAPTER X 

Postofficcs and Politics 

The foUowing may be of some interest, especially as to the names of the 
persons mentioned by S. W. Durham as proper persons with whom to consult 
on mSters bearing upon the political issues of the day. It also shows how they 
?ought for postoffices'then as 'they do now, and how careful and shrewd these old 
fel ows werl in getting in touch with their constituents. According to a le ter 
from the assistant postmaster-general, Dr. Brice is not deserymg of the office and 
George Melton is recommended. This was referred to S. AV. Durham, as well as 
the change of the name of the postoffice from Lindon to Spr.ng^■llle It was signed 
by fifty-eight citizens of Springyille. A. C. Dodge was bom in 1812 the son o 
HeniV Dodge. He was in congress luitil the territorj- became a state, and «ith 
G W Jones'became one of the first two senators from Iowa. Mr Dodge remained 
in congress till 185.5 when the democratic party lost control of the state and a 
union of all the other parties elected James Harlan to succeed him Senator 
Dodge was later minister to Spain. He died in 1883, haying won the respec 
and confidence of all political parties. The letters show how carefully the friends 
of Dodge kei)t him in touch with political conditions in eyerj- township in his 

"^^ The assembly met at Iowa City on December 4, 1848. G W. Jones was a can- 
didate against judge T. S. Wilson, who lost by a ma.iority of one. Dodge had no 
opposition in his o^^^l party and receiyed the unanimous nomination. The demo- 
cratic party in this session had a majority on .ioint ballot. He no doubt had 
been busy,"and had his friends keep him posted on the course of eyents. Ihis 
list no doubt was furnished him for the purpose of keeping in touch with the 
electors and to giye him an opportunity to select postmasters in accordance with 
seryices rendered. The letters give some the name whig, which would go to show 
that all the remainder could be relied upon as democratic in their beliefs 

The list has names of a number of men who later became noted lawyers, 
doctors, and shrewd business men. .. , , p 

The Marion postoffice was not always a plum to fight over, as it has been ot 
late It was first established in 1839 at the home of L. M. Strong, a farmer and 
tavern-keeper within the present confines of the county seat. L. Daniels came in 
1840 to start the first store, and he in turn became the postmaster for a time till 
he gave it up to John Zunro. who with IMr. Hoops started a grocery store and 
wanted the postoffice so as to have people coming in now and then. 

Marion, Linn County, Iowa, December 30, 1848. 

Hon. a. C. Dodge, , , , ^ „ , 

Dear Sir- In compliance with your request I have the pleasure to forward 
the following names of suitable persons in this county to be addressed by you: 

Center Point F O. : Jonathan Osborne. William B. Davis. James Do\nis. 
Samuel C. Stewart, Thomas G. Lockhart, James Chambers, E. B. Spencer, W. A. 
Thoma.s, Dr. S. M. Brice (Wliig). . ^r , t> y^ t^ tt 

Lafayette P. O. : Samuel Hendrickson (Co. Com.), Nathan Reynolds, Duff 
Barrow.s, Smith Mounce. Perry Oliphant (Wliig), John Wisehart. Abel E. Skin- 
ner William Hunt, William Chamberlain, Paddock Cheadle. 

Marion P O : And. D. Bottorff. Esq., V. Beall. Aljiheus Brown. Esq., Richard 
Thomas, Pen-y Oxley, Wm. H. Chambers. Nathan Wickham, Wm. L. Winters, 



POSTOFFICES AND POLITICS 83 

Wm. M. Hams, Albert Kendall, Elihu Ives, Iram Wilson, Jno. Millner, Seth 
StinsOD, Wm. Smytlio, Fri'di'rick Heeler, Elisha Moore, Robert Jones, J. P. Brown, 
Orlando Gray. Daniel Harris, Jno. S. Torrenee, Jno. Riley, James M. Berry, 
Thomas S. Bardweil, Wm. Hunter, Geo. A. Patterson, Captain Benj. Waterhouse, 
L. D. Jordan, Chandler Jordan, il. E. JIcKenne}% Jos. Clark, Samuel Powell. 

Springville P. 0. : Col. Isaac Butler, Horace N. Brown, Jos. Butler, Ezekiel 
Cox, Esq., Wm. Brohard. Squire Rob, Geo. Perkins, Jas. Butler, Geo. House, 
Harvey Stone, Wm. Evans, Edward Crow, John John.son. 

Ivanhoe P. 0.: Robt. Smythe. Mr. Bunker, Dan'l Hahn, Henry Kepler, And. 

J. MoKean. J. Briney, Hoover, Hersia Moore, And. R. Sausman, A. I. Wil- 

lits, C. C. Ilaskins, Cook, Jos. Robeson, Dr. Jno. Evans, John Stewart, 

Mason. Thos. iMcLelland. 

St. Julian P. 0.: And. Safely, Esq., (Co. Com.). McShane, Jas. Scott, 

Preston Scott. Jno. Scott, Jos. Conwaj', Geo. Hunter, David MeCall, John 
Emmons. 

Hollenback P. 0.: Edward Railsbaek. Jno. Cue. Doctor Williams, Danl 
Richards, Thomas Lewis, Geo. Slonccker. Lawrence Hollenback. 

Cedar Rapids P. 0.: Jos. Greene, Jno. L. Shearer, C. R. Mulford. Jno. 

Hunter. Esq.. Joel Leverich. Klump, E. T. Lewis, N. B. Brown, David W. 

King, Jason C. Bartholomew, Stephen L. Pollock, Nelson, Dr. Ely, Jno. 

Weare, Sen., Jos. McKee. Thos. Railsbaek, Abel Eddy, Mr. Simms. 

Post Office Department 
Appointment Office, Aug. 9, 1854. 
Sir: 

S. M. Brice, the Postmaster at Center Point, County of Linn, State of Iowa, 
is said not to have deserved the appointment. The late P. M. recommends 
George Melton. 

Before submitting this ca.se to the Postmaster General, I have to request the 
favor of any information you may possess, or be able conveniently to obtain, 
respecting it. 

I have the honor to be. 

Verj- respectfully, &c, 

HoR.\Tio King, 
First Assistant Postmaster General. 
Hon. a. C. Dodge, 

U. S. Senator. 
Endorsed : 

(Private) 
Dear Friend : 

Please enquire into the matter herein referred to & let me know the result 
& greatly oblige. 

Truly your friend, 

A. C. Dodge. 
S. W. Durham, Esq. 

Dr. S. M. Brice was located in Center Point about 1840-41, going there from 
Cedar Rjipids. He remained but a short time. Dr. Brice was a whig in politics, 
and Center Point had always been strongly democratic. He was the tirst ])0st- 
master of the village. 

The ob.iections set out in the letter must have been political for he was con- 
sidered a wide- awake and estimable man in every particular. 



84 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Post Office Department, 
Appointment Office, July 22, 1854. 
Sir: 

A. P. Risley, the Postmaster at Springville, County of Linn, State of Iowa, 

with 58 citizens, recommends the change of site and name of the office to Lindon. 

Before sulnuitting this case to the Postmaster General, I have to request the 

favor of any information you may possess, or be able conveniently to obtain, 

respecting it. 

I have the honor to be. 

Very respectfully, etc.. 

Horatio King, 
First Assistant Postmaster General. 
Hon. a. G. Dodge, 
U. S. Senator. 

Endorsed, The same of this, etc., 
greatly 
oblige 

Yours truly, 

A. C. Dodge. 
S. W. Durham, Esq. 

In 1842 the first postoffice was established in the township known as Brown by 
Isaac Butler. It was the tiird postoffice in the county and was known as Spring- 
viUe. Mail was received on horseback weekly. A. P. Risley opened a store in 
1845 and became postma.ster. He is the person referred to in the letter of Sen- 
ator Dodge. Sir. Risley sold out and removed a mile east of the town, and with 
A. E. Sampson laid out a new town called Lindon. A postoffice was secured 
though not witliout a fight, and the towai of New Lindon assumed the airs of 
city life. A hotel and blacksmith shop also kept the town alive for the time, but 
it died like other towns when the railroad was secured by Springville. and the 
booming town of Lindon has been for many years a good corn field and a rich 
pasture. Sterling became postmaster at Springville after Risley. He was suc- 
ceeded by John Hoffman. 

THE CEDAR RIPIDS POSTOFFICE 

Wliile Joseph Greene was postmaster he also acted as the first storekeeper of 
the town, and it is related of him that he carried his mail in his hat. The 
following, written by J. L. Enos, in the Cedar Valley Times, may give the 
reader an idea of the postoffice situation up to the close of the Civil war. He 
writes as follows : 

"The postoffice was established in 1847 and Joseph Greene appointed post- 
master, ilr. Greene was removed on a change of administration, and L. Daniels 
appointed to succeed him. Homer Bishop was the third incumbent and held the 
office through a succession of years, giving very general satisfaction. At the 
commencement of Lincoln's administration Mr. Bishop was removed, and in 
accordance with a mistaken and dangerous polic.v which promotes men of a 
particular class or profession in places of trust, without regard to their moral or 
any other quaiifie^itions — J. G. Davenport, until then the editor of the Cedar 
Valley Times, was appointed. 

' ' Those acq uainted with Davenport did not suppose he would be able to present 
satisfactory bonds but after some little delay he succeeded in procuring them 
and in due course of time took possession of the office. (Though a republican in 
polities, Mr. Davenport had to appeal to democratic friends for these bonds. 
J. J. Snouffer was one of them and shared in the subsequent loss.) 





PROF. H. H. FREER 
Mt. Vernon 



REV. GEO. B. BOWMAN, D. D. 
Founder of Cornell College 





JOSEPH MEKOTA 
Cedar Hapids 



\V. F. SEVERA 
Cedar Rapids 



POSTOFFICES AND POLITICS 85 

"A larse number of clerks ( ?) was found necessarj- and it became evident that 
the office was managed with great recivlessness. iMoncy was lost through the 
mail when sent to the nearest postoffice on the route, and money sent to persons 
in the city from adjjK-ent offices never came to hand. Post-age stamps were bor- 
rowed from neighboring offices and return payment obtained with great diffi- 
culty, and in some cases there was a refusal to pay — because as he (Davenport) 
said, he had already paid the amount borrowed. He was at last removed, and 
on settling uji the atfairs of the office, there wiis found to be a shortage to the 
amount of tifteen hundred dollars. His bondsmen went to work and finally 
succeeded in effecting a credit on a part of the amount and had tlie satisfaction of 
paying aliout one thousand dollars, whicli had l)eeii stolen from the government 
by tiiis arch swindler. After minor swindling operations Ik; absconded, thus 
relieving the city of tiie most bare-faced falsifier and swindler that has infested the 
city since the time of Shepard & Co., in the early day. 

"George M. Ilowlett, the present incumbent, was appointed his successor and 
makes an efficient officer. In the spring of 1865 Cedar Rapids was designated 
as a monej order office, commencing operations as .such on the 3d of July fol- 
lowing. This enlarges the responsibility of the office and great care is necessary 
to keep all things right — though the blanks furnished make the work simple in 
honest hands. ' ' 

L. Daniels was another of the early postmasters. He, also, was a merchant, 
and so was Homer Bishop, his successor in office. It was not imtil J. G. Daven- 
port became postmaster that the postoffice got into politics. In fact it was no 
plum worth has ing till about the time of the Civil war. A number of prominent 
men have since that time held the postoffice — such as Cai)tain AV. W. Smitli, 
Charles Weare, Alex. Charles, Geo. A. Lincoln. W. R. Boyd, and \V. G. Haskell, 
the present incumbent. 

A. C. Taylor relates how, when he came to Cedar Rapids, he carried on his 
jewelrj' store in the postoffice building, his store being located on the alley, in 
the rear of where the Masonic Temple now stands. The postoffice at Cedar 
Rapids soon outgrew the first government building, erected in the '90s, and the 
second was completed in 1009 at a cost of .$2o0.(100. 

If a person asked for his mail in the olden days more tlian once a month he 
was considered too imi)ortant, and the postmaster would gently remind him that 
he had no legal right to bother a man more tliau once a month, at least, about such 
a small matter as a letter. The postoffice during the past sixty-three years has 
grown to enormous proportions, till it now takes the entire time of a score of 
people to expedite the handling of the mails. 



CHAPTER XI 

The Physicians of the County 

BY FREDERICK G. MURRAY 

Among the first doctors who located in and around ilarion should be men- 
tioned S. H. Trj'on, F. W. Tailor, and James Cummings. These men came before 
1840. They were followed by T. S Bardwell and L. W. Phelps. Dr. Tryon at 
least came as early as 1838 and was for many years a well-known public character. 
He acted as county clerk and held many posts of honor. 

Dr. J. K. Rickey bought John Young's claim in Cedar Ilapids as early as 1841 
and must have been located in that vicinity at that time. What becanie of him is 
not known, and whether or not he engaged in the practice extensively is doubtful. 
There were not many whites there in those early days and it is a question if any 
had the time or inclination to be very sick. In case they were it was no doubt 
homesickness, for which a doctor has so far been unable to offer any pennanent 
cure. 

The first doctor who came to Cedar Rapids was inclined to blow his own horn. 
J. L. Enos, the editor of the Cedar Valleij Times, has the following to say : " Once 
when he had returned from IMuscatine he claimed to have lost forty pounds of 
quinine in one of the streams below the Cedar. Constable Lewis once called 
on him with an execution to secure a judgment. The doctor threw ofi:' his coat 
and prepared for a fight. The constable seeing his opportunity seized the coat 
and made away with it and found therein sufficient money to satisfy the debt. 

Profiting by the example, later comers have avoided fights and have tried to 
pay their debts. 

In the correspondence between S W. Durham and A. C. Dodge in December, 
1848, the following named doctors are referred to: S. M. Price (whig). Center 
Point; Ivanhoe, Jno. Evans; Hollenback P. 0., Dr. Williams; Cedar Rapids P. O., 
J. F. Ely. 

Thus during 1848 the above named persons must have been residents and prac- 
ticing physicians in their respective localities. Dr. Price was the second doctor 
in CedarRapids. Later he moved to Center Point. These men were no doubt 
slated as candidates for postmasters. Dr. Price lat^r acted as postmaster at 
Center Point. 

A history of the medical profession in Linn coimty must be largely made up 
of a list of names, as the intrinsic work of the medical practitioner is scarcely a 
fit subject matter for the casual reader. 

What seems to be the earliest date in connection with which there is mention 
of a physician in the coimty annals is 1841, in which year Dr. Magnus Holmes 
came to the town of Marion from Crawfords^^lle, Indiana. Promising to be of 
great value to the community. Dr. Holmes passed away a short time after his 
arrival. Dr. Henry M. Ristine, father of Dr. J. M. Ristine, of Cedar Rapids, was 
a brother-in-law of Dr. Holmes, and came to Marion from Indiana in 1842. 
Another of the very earliest practitioners was Dr. Sam Grafton, who was located 
on the Cedar river" at Ivanhoe bridge, on the old military road from Dubuque to 
Iowa City. Just when he came is not known ; this was one of the earliest settle- 
ments inthe county and he had practiced there for some four years previoiis to 
1847, in which year he fell a victim to a tj'phoid epidemic. Dr. Amos Witter 



THE PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY 87 

was one of the first physicians in Mt. Vernon. He passed away in 1862 at the 
age of fifty-five, having been several years a ineinber of the letrislature. In 1886 
there was still living in Viola a Dr. S. S. Matson, who had practiced there since 
1845. lie gi'aduated from the I'niversity of Vermont in 1832. the same year in 
which Dr. Elislia W. Lake, an early Marion physician, gradiiatt'd from the Ohio 
^Medical College. These two men are in point of graduation the oldest men the 
county has had. In nortiieast^-rn Linn the first physician was Dr. Stacy, who 
lived on the Anamosa and Quasriueton road near Boulder church. He was a 
brother to the late Judge Stacy, the pioneer promot«r of the Dubuque & South- 
western Railroad. Some of the other early practitioners were Dr. E. L. .Mans- 
field, who came to Cedar Rapids or Kingston in 1847; Dr. J. M. Traer, who made 
Cedar Rapids his home from 1847-r)l ; Dr. J. F. Ely, who came to the same place 
in 1848; and Dr. S. D. Carpenter, who came in 1849. 

Dr. Shattuck, of Green 's Mills, now Coggon, Drs. Lannin and Byam, of Paris, 
Drs. Patterson and Mitchell, of Clark's Ford, now Central City, and Dr. Young, of 
Prairieburg, were all pioneer doctors in their respective communities. Dr. T. S. 
Bardwell, who became a leading physician of Marion, settled on a farm in that 
vicinity in 1840, making his residence in the county dat*- back farther than that 
of any other medical man except S H. Tryon» 

A rather incomplete business directory of Cedar Rapids in 1856 gives the 
following as physicians : S. C, Koontz, J. H. Cambum, W. D. Barclav, J. W. Edes, 
Smith & Larrabee, R. R. Taylor. 

A complete citv directory published in 1869 gives the names of the following: 
C. F. Bullen, J. H. Camburn, G. P. Carpenter, J. P. Coulter, J. W. Edes, Maj]s- 
tield & Smith, Freeman McClelland, John North, Israel Snyder, C. H, Thompson, 
W, Bollinger, J. C. May, Of these. Dr. Cambuni and Dr. Edes were prominent 
in their profession for many years. Dr. R. R. Taylor was a Virginian, who went 
to reside in Philadelphia about the time of the Civil war. Dr. J. C. "Slay was a 
druggist as well as a very popular physician. He was a brother of the late 
Major May, of island fame. 

A medical and surgical directory of Iowa for 1876 gives the first authentic 
list of doctors in Linn county to which access has been had. A li.st of fifty is 
given as in active practice in the county at that time. Only si.\ of these remain : 
Dr. George P. Carpenter, dean of the {)rofe.ssion in Cedar Rapids ; Dr. G. R. 
Skinner, of Cedar Rapids; Dr. T. S. Kepler, of Mt. Vernon; Dr. Ilindman, of 
Marion ; Dr Edwin Burd, of Lisbon ; and Dr. F. AL Yost, of Center Point. The 
last of these. Dr. Yost, class of 1853 TTniversity of Penn.sylvania, is the oldest living 
practitioner in the county. His two sons are now as.sociated with him in his 
work. One other. Dr. J. II. Smith, of Cedar Riipids, has not been in practice for 
many years but preserves a close relation to his old calling through his presidency 
of the board of directors of St. Luke's Hospital. The two Doctors Sigwortli are 
still living near their old neighborhood, having retired to Anamosa. 

A registry of all physicians practicing in the county was begun in the county 
clerk's office in 1880-1881. It .started with sixty-four names, probably the full 
number of those in active practice at the time. Since then about 230 additional 
doctors have been registered, and of this total of nearly 300 about 125 are now 
practicing in the county. 

At Western some of the early physicians were Dr. Crouse, Dr. W. B. Wagner, 
Dr. Miller, all of whom preceded Dr. J. C. Schrader who removed to Iowa City. 
Dr. J. C. Hanshay located here in 1863 and Dr. Favour in 1877. Dr. Patterson 
was the first doctor in Bertram, in 1857. Dr. J. Stricklippe was an early doctor 
and druggist at Palo, and Dr. J. W Firkin was the second doctor at Vanderbilt, 
later known as Fairfax, His son, Edgar Firkin, is now a popular druggist 
there. Dr. U. C. Roe came to Fairfax in 1864 for the practice of medicine. 



88 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

He also sold drugs. The business finally drifted into a grocery store, as it seems 
that the settlers preferred sugar and prunes to pills and quinine. 

Among names of note in the early historj^ of these parts are those of several 
medical doctors whose prominence came along lines outside of their professional 
work. Dr. John F. Ely's name is prominently connected with the early business 
enterprises and later growth of Cedar Rapids. The doctor was called in the 
year he finished his medical studies in New York to the management of commercial 
and manufacturing interests in this county. The growth of these drew him grad- 
ually from the excellent practice for which he at first found time. To the close 
of his life, however. Dr. Ely kept himself well informed on the progress of scien- 
tific medicine. Perhaps the first autopsy in this locality was performed by Dr. 
Ely in the interests of both science and .sobriety, if early annals are authentic, the 
subject having been in life notorious for his potations. 

Dr. Eber L. Mansfield along with a large medical practice found time to build 
up successful l)usiness and real estate interests on both sides of the river at Cedar 
Rapids. 

Dr. Seymour D. Carpenter left the practice after the Civil war and became 
active and liighly successful in the building and financing of railroads in this 
state and further south. Dr. Carpenter is still living in a hale old age in Chicago. 

Dr. Freeman ilcClelland, a talented graduate of Jefferson Medical College, 
won for himself enviable popularity and influence tlirough his editorship of the 
Cedar Rapids Times. The flavor of his writings and rare personality are an 
enduring remembrance with all who knew him. 

Dr. J. T. Headley, the eminent platform lecturer, at present living retired 
in Philadelphia, is said to have first hung out his "shingle" in Cedar Rapids. 

Dr. G. W. Holmes, son of Dr. Magnus Holmes, of ilarion, after finishing at 
Bellevue, went as a medical missionary' of the American Board to Persia, where 
in addition to his other work he became royal physician to the Crown Prince, 
afterwai'ds Shah of Persia. Dr. Holmes passed away in June, 1910. 

Linn county sent a number of doctors to the army during the Civil w'ar. The 
following list is as nearly accurate as to men and organizations as it was possible 
to make it : 

Dr. H. M. Ristine, surgeon 20th Iowa Infantry. 

Dr. J. F. Ely, surgeon 24th Iowa. 

Dr. J. H. Cambum, .surgeon 16th Iowa Infantry, also 6th Iowa Cavalrj-. 

Dr. Freeman McClelland, surgeon 16th Iowa Infantry. 

Dr. H. M. Lyons, surgeon 16th Iowa Infantry. 

Dr. John F. Smith, assistant surgeon 65th Illinois Infantry. 

Dr. G. L. Carhardt, surgeon 31st Iowa. 

Dr. J. C. Shrader went from near Western College, this county, with the 
22d Iowa Infantry as captain and later as surgeon. 

Dr. Amos Witter, surgeon 7th Iowa Infantiy. 

Dr. T. S. Bardwell served as first a.s.sistant surgeon with the 6th Iowa Cavalry, 
Col. Carskadden of Marion, notably in an expedition against the Indians who were 
threatening the Nebraska and Dakota frontier, the male portion of the settlers 
there being largely absent in the Union army. 

Dr. Setii Byara, of Jackson township, was surgeon in the U. S. army. 

Dr. Seymour D. Carpenter, surgeon U. S. A., during the four years of the war. 

Of those who served othen\'ise than as surgeons. Dr. J. P. Coulter was lieuten- 
ant colonel of the 12th Iowa Infantry. He afterwards was active in city and 
county politics and held several official positions, and distantly related to him 
was the late Dr. A. B. Coulter, in whose untimely pa.ssing away the community 
lost one of its most promising professional men. 

Dr. G. R. Skinner, who came to Cedar Rapids in 1871, spent four years in the 
Civil war, leaving the service with a captain's commission. 




THE I.ATR DR. J. S.".I.OVR, SPKINC.VILLK 



THE PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY 89 

Dr. W. II. French served through the war iu tlie S!)th Illinois Infantry. 

Of those men whose distinctly professional work brought them especial esteem, 
space will aUow for the mention of only a few. 

Perhaps for no other one of their brethren did the Linn county profession 
award so universal preference as to Dr. Henry Ristine. Pioneer, patriot, and 
public-spirited citizen, he was first and before all a doctor, combining in gener- 
ous measure the traits and faculties that make an eminently successful surgeon, 
with culture and genial sympathies. It could be truly sjiid of him that he 
adorned his profession. Ilis jiortrait hangs in St. Luke's Hospital along with 
that of the kite Judge Greene, whom lie ably seconded in the work of founding tliat 
institution, .lurist and surgeon alike l)elieved in the hospital as the workshop 
without which the doctor could not do his best work, and their efforts accomplished 
much toward the establishment of medical and surgical .justice to the physically 
aflBicted, a form of service that deserves more and more public recognition in 
every conuuiuiity where moral justice to the criminally accused is so amply 
facilitated by the courts of law. 

Among other well remembered jiliysicians were Dr. J. S. Jjove. of Springville, 
Dr. James Carson, of ]\It. Vernon, I)r. D. ilcClenahan, of Cedar Kapids, and Dr. 
G. L. Carhardt, of JMarion. Beginning at an early date and devoting them- 
selves exclusively to their practice till advancing age forced retirement, they all 
four t>'pically exemplified in their respective coramiinities the life of the family 
physician. They were, none of them, modern doctors, but they lived not only 
to see but to rejoice in the day of modern medicine. Long after they had ceased 
from practice they kept up attendance at medical society meetings, keenly alive 
to the advancements of medical art and scientific research there di.scussed. They 
were resourceful men. and they had labored faithfully and well with the art 
available in their day, how often futilely none felt more keenly than them.selves. 
The realization that modem methods promised control of much that had baffled 
them seemed to lighten the burden of their declining years. Their abiding 
interest and faith in the future things of medicine was an inspiration to their 
successors. 

Of medical organizations in Linn county the oldest is the Union Medical 
Society, foimded as the Linn Coiuity Medical Society at ilt. Vernon in 1859 by 
Drs. Love, Ely, Ristine, Carson, and Lyon. Dormant during the war. it resumed 
in 1866 and ran till 1873, when its name was changed to the Iowa Union and it 
became a district society, taking its membership from half a dozen or more 
counties and centering in Linn and Johnson counties. It still meets twice a year 
at Cedar Rapids, ot-easionally at Iowa City for scientific work. Its officers now 
are: president. C. W. Baker, Stanwood; secretarj-. F. 6. Murra.v, Cedar Rapids; 
treasurer. C. P. Carpenter. Cedar Rapids. 

The present Linn County Societj' was organized in Cedar Rapids in 1903. 
•It holds meetings twice a year and is the unit of the State and American Medical 
Associations. One of its members. Dr. G. E. Crawford, is the outgoing president 
of the Iowa State Medical Society. Its present officers are: president. Dr. A. B. 
Poore ; secretary. Dr. H. W. Bender; treasurer, Frank S. Skinner. 

There are other local organizations at Mt. Vernon and Cedar Rapids. The 
Practitioners' Club of the latter place meets once a month for discussion and action 
upon medical subjects of special interest to the members. Its officers are: Dr. 
H. S. Raymer, president; H. E. Pfeiffer. .secretary; G. P. Carpenter, treasurer. 

St. Luke's Hospital at Cedar Rapids has already been mentioned. It was 
founded in 1883. On its consulting staff are Drs. G. P. Carpenter. J. M. Ristine, 
G. R. Skinner. G. E. Crawford, A. B. Poore. and A. II. Johnson. It has an 
attending staff of younger men. The hospital has seventy-five Ix-ds, haAing 
recently added a new and completely a|>pointed mat<>mity department. Mercy 
Hospital, ninety beds, founded at Cedar Rapids in 1902 and housed in its spacious 



90 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



new buildinf; in 1904, is under the care of the Sisters of >\Iercy. These finelj' 
equipped institutions serve Cedar Rapids, Marion, the railroad systems and their 
contributing territory with facilities for the best of medical, surgical and maternity 
work. Few realize the large amount of free humanitarian work they accomplish 
every year. Together with Linn county's own excellent infirmary north of 
Marion they represent in a material and public way the present status of medical 
art, science, and humanitarianism in the county. Personally and privately 
these are represented by the 125 active practitioners of medicine. 

It will be noted that the names of only a few of these have been mentioned 
and then only incidentally. The scope of this sketch does not allow adequate 
individual reference to the remainder. Nor is this the place to record contem- 
porary progress. The lives of all the present members of the profession belong 
not to the pa.st but to the future history of medicine in Linn county. The at- 
tached list gives the names of the practicing physicians in Linn coimty in 1910: 



Adams, Ernest, Central City 
Anderson, P. O., Cedar Rapids 
Bailey, F. W., Cedar Rapids 
Baile.v, H. H., Cedar Rapids 
Beardsley, D. E.. Cedar Rapids 
Bender, H. W., Cedar Rapids 
Bliss, C. S., Cedar Rapids 
Bradley, W. J., Cedar Rapids 
Brown, C. T., Cedar Rapids 
Burd. Edwin. Lisbon 
Busta., Chas., Cedar Rapids 
B.yerly, A. J., Coggon 
Carhart, Wm. G., Marion 
Carpenter, G. P.. Cedar Rapids 
Carroll, Frank, Cedar Rapids 
Carson, Geo. A., Mt. Vernon 
Childs, Edward P., Cedar Rapids 
Cogswell, C. H., Cedar Rapids 
Cogswell. C. IL. Jr., Cedar Rapids 
Crawford, A., Mt. Vernon 
Crawford, G. E., Cedar Rapids 
Crawford, J. L., Cedar Rapids 
Crew, Arthur E., Marion 
Dando, G. A., Marion 
Davis, J. L., Alburnette 
Downs. J. W., Paris 
Dvorak. Jos. F., Fairfax 
Ebersole. F. F., Mt. Vernon 
Eilers, Paul G.. Alburnette 
Fisher, C, Central City 
Fitzgerald, Wm., Cedar Rapids 
French, Chas. H., Cedar Rapids 
French. W. H.. Cedar Rapids 
Gardner. Jno. R.. Lisbon 
Gearheart. G. W.. Springville 
Graham, J. DeWitt. Spring\'ille 
Groff, H., Cedar Rapids 
Gross, H. G.. Cedar Rapids 
Hamilton, John. Cedar Rapids 
Hayes. L. C, Cedar Rapids 
Hasner, C. T., Cedar Rapids 



Heald, Clarence, Cedar Rapids 
Hill, JL W., Mt. Vernon 
Hindman, D. R., Marion 
Hogle, Geo., Mt. Vernon 
Hogle, Kate Mason, Mt. Vernon 
Hoaser, Cass T., Palo 
Hubbard, W. A., Cedar Riipids 
Hubbell. S., Cedar Rapids 
Ivins. H. M., Cedar Rapids 
Jicinsky, J. Rudis, Cedar Rapids 
Johnson, A. H., Cedar Rapids 
Johnson, B. R., Cedar Rapids 
Kegle.y, E. A., Cedar Rapids 
Keppier, T. S., Mt. Vernon 
King, W. S., Cedar Rapids 
Knox, J. M., Cedar Rapids 
Krause, Chas. S., Cedar Rapids 
Kresja, Oldrich. Cedar Rapids 
Keech, Rov K., Cedar Rapids 
Ladd, F. G., Cedar Rapids 
La Grange. J. W., ilarion 
Lee, J. A., Lisbon 
Lindley. Thos. H., Cedar Rapids 
Lindse.v, Hai-ry A., Walker 
Lord, Richard, Cedar Rapids 
Lowrey, N. J.. Ely 
Lo.v. J., Cedar Rapids 
Manahan, Chas. A., Center Point 
Mantz. R. L.. Cedar Rapids 
Martinitz, S. V., Cedar Rapids 
McConkie, Jas. J., Cedar Rapids 
McConkie, W. A., Cedar Rapids 
Meythaler, A. J., Coggon 
IMiiler. W. B.. Center Point 
]\Ioorehead. Jas., Marion 
]\Iorrison. Wesle.v J., Cedar Rapids 
Munden. R. E., Cedar Rapids 
Muirhead. Geo. S., Marion 
Murphy, Jas. J., Cedar Rapids 
ahirrav, P. G.. Cedar Rapids 
Nash, E. A., Troy Mills 



THE PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY 



91 



Neal, Emma J.. Cedar Rapids 
Netolifky, W. J.. Cedar Rapids 
Neuzil, \V. J., Cedar Rapids 
Nevvland, Jl. A., Center I'oint 
Owen, W. E.. Cedar Ivapids 
PetrovitsUv, J. C, Cedar liapids 
Pfiell'er. II. E., Cedar Rapids 
I'oore, A. B., Cedar Rapids 
Rayiner, II. S., Cedar Rapids 
Kicliardsdn, E. F., Cedar Rapids 
Rieliardson. J. F., Cedar Rajiids 
Ristiiie, J. M.. Cedar Rapids 
Robin.soii, J. B.. Mt. Vernou 
Ross. Alice I.. Wliittier 
Ruml. W., Cedar Rapids 
SaHey. Agones Isabel. Cedar Rapids 
Sheldon, B. L.. Cedar Rapids 
Skinner, Frank S., JIarion 
Skinner, Gen. C. Cedar Rapids 
Skinner, G. R., Cedar Rapids 
Spencer, W. H., Cedar Rapids 



Spicer, S. S., Cedar Rapids 
Stansbury, G W., Western ; C. Rapids 
Sherman, D. F., Cedar Rapids 
Svval), C. C. Cedar Riipids 
Swett, I'. W.. Cediir Rapids 
Tiffany, D. E., Cedar Rapids 
Van Duzcr, F. H., Cedar Rapids 
Walk, F. D., Walker 
Walker. IT. L., Cedar Rapids 
Ward, J. A.. Wanbeek 
Wel)b, Sula M.. Cedar Rapids 
Wbitmore, Clara B., Cedar Rapids 
Wilkinson, L. J., Prairieburg 
Wolf, John M., Mt. Vernon 
Wolf. Thos. L.. Mt. Vernon 
Woodbridge, Ward. Central City 
Woodruff. L. F.. Cedar Rapids 
York, N. A., Lisbon 
Yost, C. G., Center Point 
Yost, B. B., Center Point 
Yost, F. R., Center Point 



CHAPTER XII 

The Material Growth of the County 

In scarcely auy locality has the material growth been so fast and substantial 
during the past seventy years as in Linn countJ^ Old residents who have re- 
turned after a period of twenty-five to thirty years mention this fact, and what 
is true of the cities and towns is perhaps much more true of tlie rural districts 
in general. 

William Abbe erected a bark cabin for the use of his family the fii'st summer, 
after he came here, and built a log house that fall for his winter abode. 
Ed Crow, C. C. Haskins, and others also erected very frail cabins during the first 
year they lived within the coniines of the eovmty. John Henry, it is said, built 
a small store-building facing the river in the s([uatter town of Westport in 1838. 
It was a frame building about 14 x 18, scarcely high enough for any of the Oxiey 
Brothere (who were very tall men) to enter. He also erected a small dwelling 
house near the store-building, which, if anything, was smaller than the store- 
building. All the lumber in these buildings, except the window frames and the 
sills, were cut in the timber adjoining the river; even the roof was cut out of 
rough boards, with a broad saw. The nails used were brought from iluscatine, 
as well as a few hinges, and the windows. These buildings were torn down in 
1860. The Shepherd Tavern was also a rude log building, as was the Jolm 
Young house, which was afterM'ards used as a hotel, with additions added later. 

G. R. Carroll, in his Pioneer Life, mentions the first cabin erected by his 
father, Isaac Carroll, in 1839. It took about ten days to erect an ordinary cabin. 
' ' It stood on the east side of the road near ilr. Bower 's nursery on the boulevard 
one and a half miles from the river. It was a very primitive looking structure. 
16 X 18 perhaps, with what we called a cob roof, made of clapboards ^\■ith logs 
on top to hold them in place. It was quite an agreeable change from our tent 
and wagons when we entered this new cabin, although there was not a great deal 
of room to spare after our goods were unloaded and the nine members of the 
family were gathered within its walls. "When the table was spread there was 
no passing from one side to the other, except as we got upon our hands and knees 
and crawled under." 

Mr. Carroll also speaks of the second house, which was erected the same fall 
on the same premises. "It was, however, not to be a common kind of a cabin, 
it was to be a somewhat ambitious structure for the time, in fact it was to be the 
best house in Linn county, and when completed, it enjoyed that distinction. It 
was said, that there was nothing in the coimty that equalled it. The dimensions 
of this house were 14 x 16. a story and a half high. There were in the walls of 
this house between fifty and sixty white oak log-s. most of them quite straight and 
free from loiots. The ends of the logs were cut off square and the corners were 
laid up like square blocks, care being taken to cut off enough at the ends to allow 
the logs to come as close together as possible so as to leave but little space for 
chinking and plastering when it came to the finishing up. The only boards about 
the entire building were in the door which I think were brought \\-\W\ us on top 
of our wagon-box, which was of extra height. The joists above and below were 
made of logs, the upper ones squared with a broadax. The casings of doors and 
^vindows, and the floors above and below, were made out of bass wood puncheons. 
Slabs were spread out of the logs and then he\\'n out \vith a broad axe and the 




J. H. VOSMKK 
Cedar Rapids 




FATHER T. J. SULLIVAN 
Cedar Rapids 




^m IRk 




DR. E. L. MANSFIELD 
An Early Cedar Rapids Physician 



THE MATERIAL GROWTH OF THE COUNTY 93 

edges were made straiplit by the use of the chalk line. The fjable ends were 
sided lip with clai)!!!)!!!-!! rived out ol oak tiinhcr three or four feet long, and then 
shaved off smooth like siding:. The rafters were made of hickory poles trimmed 
off straifiht on the upper side, and strips three or four inches wide were nailed 
on the sheeting. Upon these strips shingles made of oak eighteen inches long 
and nicely shaven, were laid. The logs of the walls in the inside were hexni off 
Mat. and the iutei^stices between were shingled and plastered with lime mortar, 
the lime being bunied by my father on Indian Creek. There were three windows 
below of twelve lights each, with gla.ss 7 x !l, and a window in each of the gable 
ends of nine lights, which funii.shed light for the room above. The fire jilaee 
was built up of logs on the outside and lined with stone within, and the chimney 
was built of sticks split out about the size of laths and plastered witli elay, both 
inside and outside." 

The description of this house gives the reader an idea of one of the most 
up-to-date houses built before the year 1840. During the pa.st sixty years many 
conimodi<nis farm houses have been erected, having all the modem conveniences 
installed, such as heating, lighting, together with bath privileges connected with 
sanitary pluml)ing. It is said that the late S. C. Bever installed the first furnace 
in a dwelling b.ouse in Linn eounty, and many people came from over the county 
to see such a furnace work. Now, not only cities and towns, but farm residences 
have installed furnaces and other kinds of heating plants, so that which was a 
novelty fifty years ago is very ordinary today. 

The farmers in Linn county early began to invest their surplus money in farm 
niachinerv'. William Ure drove an ox team to Chicago and brought back a 
McCormick reaper, which was the first reaper brought into the county, as far as 
is known. At least it was the first reaper used and operated in and aroiuid 
Scotch Grove. The neighbors said that Ure was foolish and it would surely 
break him up, but inside of one season it paid for itself. In and around Stimey 
Point one of the first threshing machines was used; a very small machine which 
was staked fast on the ground, without a straw-carrier, and operated by horse- 
power, which was placed on the ground loo.se and liad to be hauled from place 
to place on a truck. In Linn Grove. Brown township, Wa.shington township, and 
in other localities, many of these crude reapers and crude threshing machines and 
com shellers were seen in operation during the season. Fre(|uently the people 
who purchased these early machines lost money. The machinery was not always 
recommended, and sometimes the farmers were not mechanics skilled enough to 
make repairs when needed. A number got fooled on the first wire-binders and 
on the check-rowers, as well as on some of the early mowing machines, and uuiny 
lost heavily in early days on thoroughbred horses and full-blooded cattle. But 
after all, the spirit of progress was abroad in the eommunity. and in spite of 
failures, it did a great thing for the people who became interested. The advent 
of the reaper no doubt changed farming methods in this cf)untry. It is said that 
"the struggle for bread ceased when the reajter was put on the market." At 
least it placed the struggle for existence cm a higher level. Certainly when a 
machine was invented that could do the work of five or six men and be depended 
upon, such a machine was worth having, and it soon paid for itself. 

The manufacturing of farm machinery in Linn eounty was not a financial 
success, as is shown by the failure of the Williams Harvester Works, the Ogden 
Plow Works, the Star Wiigon Works, and many other enterj)rises. but the sjiirit 
displayed by tliose who were willing to put their money inti> tliese untried enter- 
prises, showed the mettle and the ingenuity that many of these early settlers had. 
People profited by these failures, made a study of the subjix't. and in course of 
time these men who lost at times on some investment or purchased machinery 
which was not suitable to the eountrj'. became owners of magnificent farms and 
up-to-date farmers by long experience. 



94 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Tlie early corn cribs and granaries were generally built of rails, the kinks 
filled in with straw or hav. They of course had to be rebuilt every fall, and more 
or less "rain was wasted." The rail corn crib was superseded by long board cribs 
generalty built on the gi-ound without any foundation. These cribs, when empty, 
were generally bknra about the premises and had to be hauled back and propped 
up before theV could be used in the fall. The farmers of Linn county frequently 
visited in Illinois, and there found models for economical corn cribs. They also 
read the farm journals, and it was not long until our farmers erected the modern 
corn crib and granary with gasoline engines, dumps, and elevators. These cribs 
were substantially l)uilt on cement foiuidations with cement floors, and with a 
driveway large enough and wide enough to house several wagons and three or four 
buggies "at one time. The early corn crib, it is true, cost little or nothing, but 
they were a source of expense and annoyance, and much grain was wasted. Ihe 
modem corn crib, as now erected, is built for a life time, but at a cost of from 
two thousand to three thousand dollars, which would have been a sum impossible 
to raise by the early settler, who generally paid the government price on his land 
by disposing of skins which he prepared during the winter, and who went bare- 
footed in summer for the reason that he had no money to buy shoes and no time 
to make moccasins for himself or his children. 

Thus the early farmer housed his horses and cattle in straw stacks during the 
winter and in the timber during the summer. Sometime a hay thatched stable 
was erected for the use of the horses. He milked his cows out on the snow in 
winter, and expected them to yield a fair supply of milk on a diet of slough 
hay and drv corn stalks, and would drive them to water to some creek or river 
once a day.'usiug an ax with which to cut a hole in the ice. These stables would 
leak in spring and summer and had to be rebuilt neariy every fall. All hay was 
stacked outside and neariy half of it would rot during the ramy season. But hay 
was cheaper than lumber and for that reason a man had to figure on putting up 
enough ha^- during the summer, and take into account the waste. It was not till 
after the Civil war that many barns were built, and then only the rich tanner 
could afford them. Not till the '70s and '80s did the craze for barn building 
come, and now neariy every farm of any size, and neariy every farmer of any 
financial standing, has a good substantial barn, as well as machine sheds, all ot 
which improvements may cost from three thousand to ten thousand dollars. 

In the early days many farmers were fooled or taken in on the creamery 
proposition, as many of these small countrj^ creameries failed The peoi^le then 
began to study the cow and the cost of producing milk and butter. True the 
first attempts "were not a success, but the butter and milk of Lmn county have 
during the past twenty-five years made many of the fanners wealthy. It used 
to be that if the cows could keep down the groceiy bill that was well done but 
now many a farmer gets a monthly milk check of from fifty t,. seventy-five dollars 
which not only pays the grocery bill, but generally the hired man a.s well, liut 
then the price of butter has increased from six cents to thirty, which makes a 
difference The butter has also gradually become a better quality and is really 
worth more. It is taken care of now, while in the pioneer days the cream was 
left out doors during the hot summer and the rancid butter was placed in a 
shallow slough well so as to be kept cool. It was generally not fit to use and was 
traded at the store for dried pnmes, brovra sugar, and dried hernng. 1 hus, 
while the farmer may not have given the merchant much, the merchant ccTtainly 
did not give the farmer anything of much value in return for his farm produce. 

During the past twenty years no class of people have fared better financially 
than the farmers, and no class of people have become more enlightened on the 
subject in which they are engaged than the farmers. This may be due to several 
reasons The farm journals have no doubt done much in stirring up a local pride 
in the vocation of farming. The farm journal has taught the farmer not to be 



THE MATERIAL GROWTH OF THE COUNTY 95 

ashamed of his calling; that wliile he may be called a "Rube" in some localities, 
he is an intelligent, up-to-date, wiili'-awake man, who knows wliat is going on in 
the country; is t'aniiliar witii political ((ucstions and interested in the welfare of 
the country and of the state in which he resides. During the past twenty years 
the farmer, especially in Linn county, has traveled much, lie has attended the 
county and state fairs where he has seen the latest inventions in machinery. He 
has attended nearly all of the exhiiiitions held in tlie eoiuitry from Chicago to 
Seattle, and has come in contact with farmers from other sections of the country 
as well as with linanciei-s and men of atfairs. lie has traveled much on land 
excursions and has learned to study iind understand the nature of the soil. While 
it is true, that the.se various journeys have taken some time and money, yet they 
have made the farmer an up-to-date man, familiar with all sides of human life, 
and he has discovered, after all, that he is one of the most foi-tunate men in the 
country, and financially better off than many a city brother who may wear broad- 
cloth and a boiled shirt, but whose bank account is generally depleted. The 
Linn county farmer has learned during the past twenty-five years to know him- 
self and to understiiud and respect the class to which he belongs. No one can 
become a sui'cessful person in any line of business unless he is proud of the line 
of work in which he is engaged. The farmer has learned this secret, and he is not 
ashamed to tell anyone, that he is a llawkeye farmer, owning his own farm and 
caring for his own property. The Iowa farmer has kept up with the procession, 
and he certainly is as intelligent, as wide-awake, and as shrewd and keen as the 
merchant, the banker, iind the professional man in his business dealings. But he 
came to Iowa at the jirojier time, and for that reason he had the advantage of 
the old settlei"s who came to New England or to Jamestown. These men came 
ahead of their time and before things were ripe for such settlement. The bread 
tools of the Virginia pioneer were the same as those of the Indians whom they 
despised and wanted to drive out. The first settlers of Iowa came with the advent 
of the reaper, when a boy fifteen years of age could cut the grain with ease, which 
several sturdy men had to do before with the sickle and the scythe. 

We seem to think that we have had the modern inventions for ages, but the 
first white settlers in Linn county, whoever they nuiy have been, knew nothing 
of matches ; of stoves as we know them ; of the telegi-aph or the telephone or 
electric lights. They did not have modern corn cultivators or stirring plows. 
All these so-called modern appliances have been invented since the advent of the 
first settler in this county. But it was not long after these inventions came into 
use, until some enterprising individual or firm introduced them into Linn comity. 
It is said that it was at a Shriner meeting on the old State Fair Ground, which 
is now Central Park. Cedar Rapids, that electricity wa.s lii-st used in this comity, 
and pi'ople came for many miles to watch this iieculiar light, which some thought 
could only be accounted for. on the ground that the operator was in close con- 
nection witli the Evil One. Banium, with his show, also exhibited electric lights 
to the consternation of the vast crowds that came to see his circus, and it was one 
of the chief attractions during tlie first year. People came many miles to listen 
and talk through a telephone, and now everj- up-to-date farmer has an instru- 
ment installed in his own house. 

In a material way the settlers in Linn county have succeeded beyond the 
e.xpeetation of the most sanguine. Thrift and prosperity' can be seen on everj' 
hand. The various farmers' alliances, elevator companies, banking companies, 
creamery companies, old settlers' unions, and all these have brought the men over 
the county in closer toucli with each other and the farmers of the whole 
county have learned to ap|ireciate the marvelous benefits derived from social inter- 
course. It has made them broader and more liberal minded toward one another. 

The first real census of the county was made in 1840 by II W. Gray, who 
found 1.373 men, women, and children here. There were no less than 200 people 



96 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

who celebrated the 4th of July at Westport in 1838, but these may not all have 
belonged to the county. There was a rapid influx of people, and by 1845 it has 
been estimated that no less than 4,000 had declared Linn count.y their permanent 
home. The men who came here in the early days knew nothing of luxuries, for 
it is said that there were not over twenty buggies in the county and not to exceed 
two pianos. The gold excitement took many of the bright young men away, most 
of whom never returned. The census of 1850 sKows that there were 5,444 people 
in the countj% further demonstrating that the land seekers were still coming de- 
spite the fact that many residents must have left for the gold fields of California. 
By 1860 fully 19,000 residents claimed the county as their home. At the first 
election in the county 39 votes were cast. In 1875 there were more than 7,000 
voters, and this numljer has gradually increased till the votes cast in 1908 were 
6,558 republican, 5,008 democratic, 220 prohibition, and 121 scattering, making 
a total vote of 11,900. Long ago the farming districts were filled up and the 
countiy portions have not grown in population. The demand for pioneere has 
ceased, and the growth henceforth will be in the cities and to\\'ns, and not in the 
country until such a time as the cities will be compelled to expand or the people 
congregating therein will be enabled to seek the countiy to make a living. There 
may also come a time when the large farms will be divided up among members 
of the family and when it will pay better to farm on a small rather than on a 
large scale. If the land can be subdivided into small tracts, as in many parts of 
Europe, Iowa and Linn county will be able to feed a much larger population and 
at greater ease than can the exhausted lands of the old countries. 

The soil in Iowa is as rich today and will if well cared for produce more today 
than it did some forty years ago. The farmers will now devote more of their 
time to make the farms yield more and not in the purchase of more lands as here- 
tofore. "What the modem farmer is now up against is better markets, cheaper 
freight charges, more local manufacturing, and increased commercial conveniences. 

For many years after the lands v.-ere taken up and cultivated the farmers were 
unable to get rid of their products. There were no other markets than the local 
ones. Robert Ellis had tried the experiment of running Hat boats down the river 
and had returned without any profits. Holmes, the Higley Brothers, Daniels, 
and others built flat boats at Ivanhoe and shipped wheat in the early spring 
down the Cedar and made a little money. But there was more or less risk, and 
much labor was expended, and the returns were not always satisfactor>\ ]\Iany 
teamed and hauled dressed pork, wheat, and barley to the Jlississippi river, 
mostly to JIuscatine, but after the driver returned and figured up his expenses 
and the cost of a few groceries and a calico dress for the wife, he had little left 
with which to pay interest and tax on the land. 

The farmer was kept busy in paying taxes and breaking up and fencing more 
land. To do these things and keep his family was all he could hope to accom- 
plish. The business man who had come here was without funds, and interest 
rates were high. He could not borrow enough to carry out his scheme of factory 
building, as he had expected. Saw mills and grist mills were erected so as to 
supply the local trade with enough materials for liuilding. and enough food to live 
on, but that was all. The cost of transportation was high, and the cost of any- 
thing like luxuries was so great that it was out of the question to purchase any. 
As late as 1855 there were no markets and no means to ship anything out except 
by flat boats early in the spring of the year when the water was high. N. B. Brown 
started the first woolen mill a.s early as 1848. This was later disposed of to the 
Bryan family, but the mill never was a real success. There was no demand for 
the goods and the expense was too high to ship the raw products in and the fin- 
ished products out. To haul any amount in a farm wagon a hundred miles over 
poor roads, subject to all kinds of weather, is not a success to the hauler nor to the 
man who hires him. 





JUDGE JAMES H. ROTHROCK 



HUN. JAMKS UKK 
A Fairfax Pioneer 





L. J. PALDA 
Cedar Rapids 



J. J. DANIELS 
Earlv Linn Countv Official 



THK MATERIAL GROWTH OF THE COUNTY 97 

Even after tlu' railroad was brought to Cedar Kaj)ids the people did not realize 
tliat there was any other hut a local market for any product. During the early 
years of thi' war. from 1862-3. the |)eople awoke to a realization that it would pay 
to get in touch with a larger market, and the Chicago prices on stutl" began to be 
quoted. K. D. Stephens built an elevat^ir at .Marion and l>egan sciitling com to 
the river. (Jattle and hogs began to go up in i)rice, and soon the jjcople realized 
that the railroad was not built to carry pa.ssengers only, hut freight as well, and 
that on a large scale. 

In 1866 the number of acres asses.sed wa.s 452,486, and the land, exclusive of 
towns and villages, amounted to $3,012,754. The assessment for Linn county in 
1878 wa.s 449.774 acn>s. .$5,127,133. The actual valuation in 1855 was about three 
and one-half millions, while in l!)(i() th(> taxable valuation of the county was 
something over twelve millions. 

Butter and cheese making were at one time i)usinesscs which made the farmers 
much money, but not till they learned how to prepare good butter and get a 
market established for it. Soon agents came to Iowa looking over the crops, and 
presently few towns were without hn-al agents who handled stock and grain on a 
commission ha.sis. 

Henceforth it was the Chicago market and not the local nuirkct tliat governed, 
and the railroads were loaded down many sea-sons of the year in haiUing train 
load after train load of corn and wheat and cattle and hogs, the ])ro|>erty of the 
Iowa farmei-s. Iowa became in a short time the food producing state in the Missis- 
.sippi Valley and has so remained till this day. 

It was the productiveness of the; soil, the manner in which the soil was pre- 
pared and thf prices for farm products that made the land valuable. And it was 
the outside market that made farm produce worth the price it was for a local 
market cannot do this. The Chicago market has become the world market on 
many commodities, and lueky is the person who owns lands within a safe radius 
of such a market. 



CHAPTER XIll 

Rural Life 

The rural life of the pioneers in Linn county was much the same as it was in 
any of the adjoining counties in eastern Iowa. The settlers were intelligent, 
young, active, and enthusiastic, believing in the future of the new State. The 
men were able to do nearly all kinds of mechanical work without any help or 
assistance, while the women were equally dextrous in spinning, weaving, and 
doing all kinds of house work. They were all clad in homespun and no false 
standards were maintained by the so-called well-to-do. 

Wheat was the product for many years until the pest took it. and Indian corn 
was grown. It was soon found that wheat was expensive to raise, as seed was 
high, the cost of harvesting expensive, and frequently a shower or a storm when 
the wheat was ripe destroyed a great deal of it, so the farmer's summer work at 
times would be entirely gone. It cost less to raise com. and in course of time 
a market was found for it. although it scarcely ever sold for more than 30 cents 
a bushel. 

"In ye olden times" master and servant had no trouble. They ate at the 
same table, worked side by side during the day, and it was a sort of partnership 
affair throughout the season from the early si)riug until the crops were gathered 
in the fall. During the entire season the hired man had handled scarcely a dollar 
and he had taken up at the village store on credit in the master's name goods 
that would not exceed in value ten or fifteen dollars. While it has been often 
stated that in the pioneer days the men were overworked and underpaid, which 
might be true in part, .still during these formative years, when everything was 
new, and there were no classes, all settlers were im the same level — s(K'ially and 
financially. It was not long until the hired man had worked long enough to get 
sufficient money to make a first payment on a farm, and in a few years the renter 
became a land owner and well fixed. 

The scattered settlers during the early years of their residence in Linn county 
relied on their own ingenuity for evervthing they needed; thus, they were their 
own blacksmiths, cabinet makers, carpenters, tanners, stone masons, and shoe 
makei-s. They would tan their o\ra leather, shoe their own horses and oxen, 
make their own crude haraess. and get along and be satisfied. While they would 
depend on the village blacksmith and on the wagon maker, roads were impas.sable 
in the spring of the year and a yoke of oxen was not the swiftest means of getting 
to and from a town twenty-five or thirty miles away. Hence a farmer who had 
any ingenuity at all, would rather do his own work in a crude way. than have to 
go to town to get anything repaired which was Iiroken. 

Much amusement was also had in the early days in the various communities 
where men and women enjoyed meeting together at social functions. There 
were quilting bees, spelling schools, barn raisings, log rolling, debating schools, 
singing schools, and many other gatherings which frequently ended with a barn 
dance or a house warming supper, provided by the host and hoste'ss. 

The winter season in "ye olden times" was not an easy time of it by any means, 
for the pioneers went to the timber early in the morning and would .stay all day 
and until late at night, cutting wood, making rails and getting big logs to the 
saw mills. It mattered not what was the kind of weather, the young man would 
stiirt off to the timber with the thermometer frequently at from twenty-five to 
thirty below zero. Sometimes it would be pleasant in the morning when they 
started out, but fre(iuent.ly a severe blizzard would come up before night, and 



RURAL LIFE 99 

many were the frozen hands and ears they would l)ring home to thaw out late at 
iiifjht, havinj? been out all day in the most sinere weather. But as soon as it 
was over it was fopfrottcn. and the next day or the next week the young man 
would apiin repeat the same performance. 

While the men were strong, active, and hardworking, the women were e(iually 
active, persevering and industrious. The girls always took care of the milk and 
butter; the straining of the milk wj..s done by the slough well or in a dark mud 
cellar, with no stone in it. and which always kept caving in until the entire house 
had to be put on pillars. The wife frei|uent]y had the family washing out by 
sunrise and the hired girl, if the family could aft'ord one, would work side by 
side with her mistress and would do hotii inside and outside work if needed. No 
one was afraid to work ; in fact they were all proud of what they had accom- 
plished. 

There were not many varieties of dishes on the table in pioneer daj's, and still 
the settlers had plenty of good, wholesome food, and were always hungi-y. Salt 
pork, johnny cake, honey, and game were the customary foods of the farmer in 
ye olden times. They scarcely ever tasted fresh meat from sjjring until fall, 
unless some of the boys shot a little game now and then. The settlere were com- 
panionable, good natured, and contented. They traded cattle, hor.ses. mules, 
and at times farms, (mly now and then would trouble arise as one would accuse 
another of smart dealing.s, and a lawsuit would ensue. It is related of an itinerant 
preacher who purcha.sed a yoke of oxen from one of the deacons in the church, 
that while he was t-esting the oxen on a hot Sunday driving to church with his 
family, the yoke sfiuatted down in a mud hole and remained there and it was 
impossible to move them at all. The preaclier spied the deacon coming to church 
and was not slow in telling him what he thought of liim as well as the oxen he had 
sold him. The deacon was not at all worried but replied, "parson, you must not 
forget to swear at 'em. that is the only thing they loiow," and drove on as though 
not at all otTended by the remarks of the preacher. 

In the early days the farmers had no cisterns, no wind mills, no deep wells. 
Rain \s'ater was gathered in barrels which dried up in summer and froze solid in 
winter, so the hou.se wife had st-arcely any rain water either sunnner or winter. 
The well was generally a ten foot shallow well dug down by the slough, poorly 
planked, and fretiuently it caved in ; another well was dug much in the same 
manner as the old one, the new well soon meeting with the same ending as the 
former one. 

There were few, if any. barns in the olden times and straw thatched sheds 
and stables were universally used. These stables were moved fre(|uently for the 
reason that the farmers failed to haul out the manun> which accumulated, finding 
that it was easier and cheaper to move the stable than to haul away the manure. 
Nearly all of the hay was stacked out doors and had to be cut and hauled away 
in order to l)e fed to the cattle. 

The farmers were slow and backward in many things. They jios-ses-sed no 
spirit of restlessness and took things coolly, relying, it seems, on the old adage 
which says that "he who drives with oxen also gi>t,s there." While they early 
built fairly good houses, they were slow in erecting buildings and comfortable 
places for their horses and cattle, and it was many years before they began to 
erect sheds and buildings for their machinery. Wagons without spring seats sold 
at from $100.00 to $125.00; reapers and mowing machines were verj- expensive 
and they were generally only a few of these in each neigh1)orhood. The house- 
hold furniture was cheap and simple; there were no such tilings as furnaces or 
hard coal buniers. Mostly old stoves were in use for the burning of wood, and 
these perhaps were second hand, or at lea.st had seen better days. 

The young man in pioneer days generally started out in life with an ox team. 
a breaking plow, and a wagon. The wages for breaking were fmin $1.00 to $2.00 



100 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

an acre, and when he was not breaking he would often be running a thresliing 
machine or working in the saw mill or in the timber getting out logs. Wlien 
ox teams were used for breaking, it took one to drive and one to hold the plow in 
the groimd. A person generally broke more land than he could fence, and it 
was no use to sow wheat and not fence, for in those days the law permitted cattle 
and horses to run at large. 

Corn was not cultivated on the new ground to any extent, except that each 
one raised enough corn for his own use but no more. The corn was generally 
put in by hand, plowed only once or twice with a single shovel plow pulled by 
one old nag. 

In the early days all the cooking was done by the open fireplace; such an 
article as a stove was not much known. Corn bread and pork, with rye coffee, 
formed the average bill of fare at the wayside inn and at the farm house. The 
boarders actually preferred pork to venison ; they got tired of game — it was so 
plentiful. JIany a pioneer farmer could shoot from five to ten deer near his 
door before breakfast. 

In ye olden times nearly everyone would attend church, especially in summer. 
While many did not belong to any church, yet they were all interested in it. They 
supported the churches to the best of their ability. The influence of the country 
church did much in making this a county which .still shows the effect of the early 
training and of the efforts of itinerant preachers and laymen who went from 
place to place visiting the scattered congregations. Such preachers as Troup, 
Searles, Ingham, J. Hodges. Hayden, Twing, Maxin, Dudley, Rankin, Boal, 
Cunningham, Keeler, Phelps, Roberts, Jones, Elias Skinner. Father Emmons and 
many of the early itinerant ministers did much to build up churches in this county. 
Then there were a number of lavTnen in various denominations who maintained 
in part some of the associations themselves, such as Tom Lewis, Levi Lewis, 
Chandler Jordan, Henry Rogers, and the Knrtzes, Runkles, Shueys. and many 
of the early settlers in and around Lisbon. The community around ]Mt. Vernon 
was also much influenced by the college atmosphere and by the itinerant preach- 
ers who visited the scattered members in Franklin township. These are only a 
few of many such communities where an interest was kept up in the small country 
churches where large congregations gathered weekly for meditation and for 
prayer. Many old pioneer families did much to help the church. 

One can converse with the old pioneer now. and he still loves to recall the old 
times, the old haunts and the wayside places. It was by some rail fence that a 
rural maiden had whispered to him as a yoiuig man, that the pain in her heart 
no human touch but his own could heal. It Avas here loved ones had spoken as 
the.y chattered away in childish whispers, when he came home from ended labors, 
and it was here that he took his family on Sunday to the little church where they 
all bowed silently in prayer, full of the faith and the hope which made his heart 
strong and his footsteps light. The simple mode of living in Linn county in an 
early date made strong men and courageous women. They were brought up to 
withstand the temptations of life and to despise the false veneer of a later genera- 
tion. They lived up to the ideals of their way of thinking, and left sturdj' 
families who grew up in the simple ways of the pioneer, themselves dutiful sons 
and daughters of the old settlers who came here in any early day to make homes 
for themselves and their descendants. 

Truly, the pioneers should be remembered for Avhat they accompli.shed, for 
well might they sing with the poet: 

"Fading away like the stars of the morning. 
Losing our light in the rising sun ; 
Thus would we pa.ss from the earth and its toiling 
Onlv remembered bv what we have done. ' ' 




BRIDGE AT THE PALISADES 




THE PALISADES OF THE CEDAR 



CHAPTER XIV 

A Hero of the Canadian Rebellion 

What [iroiiiisccl to have been a war to deatli in Linn county in the oarly '40s 
terminated liecause one of our old settlers, tlieu a young man, said what he knew 
to be the fact and was willing to l)aek it up with foree. The interesting story is 
as follows: I\)litieal dissension had prevailed in Canada since 1820, and an opea 
rebellion broke out in 1837. In lower Canada it began among the French set- 
tlers who wanted e(inality and their rights as Frenchmen, while in upper Canada 
it was brought about by leaders of the radical party insisting on a democratic 
form of government. The rebellion was lead by Lyon Mackenzie, a native of 
Scotland who had taken up journalism in Canada. The spirit of rebellion ex- 
tended aKso into the United States, and many so-called filibusters .joined the in- 
surrectionists from a spirit of adventure. The papers mentioned in lengthy 
articles the.se .so-called leaders, one especially being given much notoriety, one 
William Johnson, who, after the rebelli(m was put down, lived on one of the 
Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence and evadetl capture. His daughter. Kate, 
it was said, brought him food and the soldiers were unable to locate the hiding 
phu'e of this rebel who defied the government militia. 

Robert KUis met this so-called Bill Johnson at Prairie du Chien. Wisconsin, 
in 1842. Johnson a.ssert^d with a great deal of gusto that he had escaped from 
the Islands and was going t« make his home among the free people out on the 
borders. lie was accomjianied by {•. woman he claimed to be his daught<>r who 
received as much attention as the valiant soldier himself. Johnson drifted into 
Ft. Atkinson ;ind finally located on a claim two miles above (^uascpieton. on the 
north i)ank of the Wapsie river. Here he l)ecame a sort of feudal lord, told 
exaggerated stories about his valor, and was surroiuided by a number of frontier 
soldiers who claimed to have fought in the war of 1812. as well a-s in the Canadian 
rebellion. For a time Captain Bill Johnson was idolized as no other person in 
this part of Iowa, and it is certain that his daughter Kate was laid siege to by 
more than one border hero under the gui.se of suitor. 

It was not long until the arrogant ways of Captain Bill Johnson, who .iumped 
a claim. oflFendcd an old settler by the name of Henry Bennett, who resided near 
Qua.s(|ueton. and who was one of the first settlers in that communit.v. .Vttempted 
arrests were made pro and con. but the Bennett party was successful and they 
drove Captain Johnson out of the community, after a .sound flogging. He drifted 
into Marion and put up at the Phillips Hotel, tx-lling stories of Bennett's abuse, 
how his property had been taken, and how he had been driven out of the county 
like a criminal. He wanted redress. The good jieople of Marion believed these 
stories, and soon a company was organized and jtrovided with weapons of war 
to snrroutiil Bennett and demand restitution. A n\unber of the old .settlers of 
Marion were mustered into this company, such as Oeorge Patterson. Col. Durham, 
and others of the well known residents. It was in the wint^'r of 1843. but that 
did not keep any of the company away from a forced march to Qu!i.s(|ueton. 
Bennett had friends and admirers also, and being made aware of the proposed 
attack he fortified his camp, laid in a supply of food, and had his guns ready. 
The attacking party demanded restitution, but the old man shook his head and 
told them to cotne on. The besiegers had to camp out. while Bennett's followers 
were well housed and warm. Finally the attacking army ran out of provisions. 



102 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

and after a couueil of war in which the peace loving spirit prevailed, they decided 
to return to the quiet haunts of Marion. 

Johnson still kept up his abuse of Bennett and his friends, and when that did 
not satisfy would resort to taJes of his wonderful escapades on the St. Lawrence 
and how he had evaded the British officers with the assistance of his daughter, 
Kate. The good people at first entertained him as a guest, and he was always 
willing to accept of their hospitality, but stories were circulated tnat this so-called 
daughter, Kate, was not his daughter at all. But Bill Johnson still remained, 
having a number of supporters. 

One night Robert Ellis entered the Phillips Hotel while Johnson was heaping 
abuse on the Bennett party and on the courts of Iowa, telling Geu. James Wilson, 
who was survej'or-general of the territory, the story of his abuse. He said, that 
the day before he and his crowd had tracked Bennett as far as Delhi where the 
party escaped, being assisted by William Abbe, a prominent settler of Linn 
county. This was too much for Ellis, and he replied as follows: "That is not 
true, a.s Wm. Abbe drove from Ft. Atkinson with me, and we arrived in Marion 
today, and we were together all of the time." Johnson was full of "wTath and 
cabbage." He arose and in a much iu.iured manner said, "You might as well 
call me a liar as to say that," to which Ellis replied, "If that suits you any bet- 
ter I can call you a liar, because that is what you are, if you want us to believe 
what you have been saying here tonight. You have been telling lies about my 
friend Abbe " Johnson pulled oft' his coat and was about to strike him, when 
Mr. Ellis spied a hickory stick in the wood box. With that he went after John- 
son, who quietlj- retreated, put on his coat, engaged in conversation with Wilson, 
and the matter for the time dropped. The story leaked out that this Canadian 
boaster was nothing but a coward, and there were grave doubts as to whether or 
not he was the person he claimed to be. Finally so much opposition arose against 
him that be left Marion — much to the .satisfaction of the people of the county 
for they had seen and heard things which reflected against Johnson 's relations with 
his so-called daughter. 

In 1849 Robert Ellis drifted into the gold camps of Sacramento Valley on the 
American river, and who should he find out there but the daughter of Bill John- 
son, now the wife of one of the miners. He learned that Bill Johnson had drifted 
into Southern Iowa and ^lissouri, where he assumed his old attitude, expecting 
free board and considerable consideration, but the pioneers in that community 
had to be "shown" and cared not much for what Johnson had been ; the question 
was what he was then. A suitor in JIahaska county came to see his alleged 
daughter, but Bogus Johnson opposed and threatened him with dire disaster if 
he came within shooting distance. The suitor was not at all scared, having lived 
on the frontier longer than Johnson The woman may have regretted the double 
life she had been living, and perhaps with her assistance — no one knows — 
Johnson was killed in a quarrel by the suitor, it was alleged, and prosecutions 
followed. The suitor and Kate after a long trial then drifted to California, and 
there Robert Ellis found them and heard the storv' that Captain Bill Johnson, 
once the terror of this part of Iowa, was a bogus Bill Johnson, and the light haired 
Kate was not the Kate of storj' and fiction at all. If it had not been for tho 
obstreperous Bennett on the W^apsie and for the hickory stick in the hands of 
Robert Ellis bogus Bill Johnosn might have terrorized this community much 
longer than he did. 

Another story was also told shortly after Johnson left by one of John.son's 
henchmen, an old soldier, which shows the bad character and disposition of 
Johnson. William Abbe, one of the early settlers, and at one time a member of 
the legislature of Iowa, being in the employ of the government, having a contract 
t« deliver provisions at Ft. Atlrinson, was about to return to his home in Linn 
Grove, which fact was known to Johnson. The soldier related after Johnson's 



A HERO OF THE CANADIAN REBELLION 103 

hasty departure that he and Johnson had entered into an agreement to blackmail 
Abbe and get some money out of him by inviting Abbe to remain in the Joluison 
cabin over night and then to threaten Abbe that he had assaulted the daughter 
of Johnson while accepting of his hospitality. Johnson was to remain in hiding 
while the soldier was set out on the trail to watch for Abbe and invito" him to the 
cabin. This was done and the soldier sat out in the timber watching for Abbe 
during the afternoon and evening, hut fortunately Abiie failed to make his appear- 
ance as expected and the deep laid plan fell through. 

Bill Johnson, whatever he may have been, was certainly an expert in his line 
and seemed to ingratiate himself into the good graces of many prominent jjcople. 
He obtained the a.ssistance and help of Grovernor Chambers, as well as Surveyor- 
General James Wilson, and many othei's in the various law suits which he had 
with the members of the Bennett party. General Wilson, as is well kno\ni, was 
a native of .\ew IIamp.><hire and on account of the personal friendship of Daniel 
Webster had been api>ointed to this office by President Ilarrisson. Webster had 
intended to slate his friend Wilson for Governor of Iowa, but Harrison had ap- 
pointed his ])rivate secretary and former aide-de camp. Colonel John Chambers. 
Thus General Wilson had to accept the only vacancy left, that of surveyor-general. 
On his trip over Iowa, General Wilson was accompanied by his daughter, Mary 
E. Wilson, better known as Mrs. John Sherwood, who later became one of the best 
knowii writers and society women on two continents. It was at JIarion, according 
to the report of Robert Ellis, that Johnson first met General Wilson and that the 
friendship sprang u[) between them, and it seemed as though Johnson had known 
a number of Wilson's relatives and a great many of the prominent men in .\'ew 
England. It is thought, of course, that Johnson impo.sed upon General Wilson 
and no doubt used the names of parties he had known of in some way to further 
his own selfish purjjoses. 

The followinir niav be quoted from the History of Waxhinqton Couiitij. Vol. I, 
p. 326, as told by II. A. Burrell : 

"A Mahaska county murder case of Job Peek, the murderer of Wm. Johnson, 
came here on a change of venue September 9, 1843 ; it was a. melodrama : A culti- 
vated Canadian revolutionist, a beautiful girl Kit claiming to be his daughter, 
horsethieves, etc., being the persona? dramatis, an elopement and kidnaping 
constituting the action of the piece The Canuck was shot in his cabin and a 
lover of Kit was held for the crime. Kit was spirited to Pittsburg, Pa., and the 
lover proved an alibi; he had married Kit near Fairfield. While in jail here he 
did not know his bride's whereabouts nor for several months after, but he finally 
found her with fine people. They lived near Oskaloosa for .vears when the.v went 
to California. Who she was, was never knowni ; she denied that Johnson was her 
father; he may have been her husband. After Peck's death she married again 
and had a noble family and was called the Queen of the Thousand Isles — in 
oil business? Johnson wa.s the sub.iect of state correspondence between the 
United States and England A British subject, he revolted, turned renegade and 
spy in 1812, and robbed the mails to get information. Both coiuitries offered a 
reward for him and he fled to the Isles. " 

How much truth there is in the above it is difficult to say. It is at least 
based on hearsay. Colonel Durham knew Johnson well and was one of his friends 
in the Quasqaeton affair, and Robert Ellis also knew him. as well as the membei's 
of the Abbe famil.v. Whether Johnson was a Canadian or a citizen of the United 
States or had anything to do with the war of 1812 is uncertain. At least in 
Linn county he claimed to be the Bill Johnson of Canadian fame. For that 
reason he intn)dueed this young woman as his daughter to carrv^ out the stor.v. 
as the original Johnson did have a daughter who carried news as well as food to 
him in his hiding. 



104 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

To supplemeut the above aceount may l)e mentioned tlie following from the 
"Early History of Dubuque," as written by L. II. Laug^vorthy, and printed in 
the Iowa Journal of History and Politics, July. 1910: 

"In 1S43 a ino.st ludicrous affair occurred. A villainous fellow palmed him- 
self upon the people of Buchanan eounty as the renowned i)atriot and celebrated 
hero of the Thousand Isles, Bill Johnson. This man. with his daughter I\Iiss 
Kate Johnson, was suspected, it seems, of being any other than the far-famed 
Canadian patriot, by the citizens of Buchanan county, who thought tit to take 
Johnson out in the night, tie him to a tree and whip him .severely with fifty lashes 
on his naked back. The offenders were arraigned before Judge Wilson. The 
court house was crowded by hundreds of eager spectators who listened with 
inten.se interest to the proceedings- all an.xious to see the laws of our country 
adimnistered faithfully. The prisoners' names were Evans. Spencer. Parrish, 
and Kowley. charged with burglary and riot. It appeared that these defendants 
accompanied by several other white men and five or six Indians after lynching 
Johnson, ordered him and his daughter to pack up their goods and be off in two 
hours, and not to return at the peril of their lives. Great sympathy was felt for 
this Johnson and the two tender females of his household, who were thrown out 
in the depth of winter and obliged to travel twenty-five miles over a cold and bleak 
prairie; so cold that it froze one of the lynchers themselves to death, another lost 
his feet, and several others were severely frozen. The citizens here declared that 
Johnson looked as if he was born to command, and betokened in every action that 
he was the same old Bill John.son. the hero of the Thousand Isles, the Canadian 
patriot, and the great friend of hunian liberty and republican institutions ; while 
all the young bloods of the tt)wii declared that Mi.ss Kate Johnson was a very 
intelligent and interesting young lady, with rare accomplishments, agreeable 
manners and the worthy daughter of a gallant sire. The ca.se was conducted on 
the part of the prosecution by James Crawford and General James Wilson ; on 
the part of the defense by James Churchman and I. ^I. Preston : the counsel on 
both sides in their speeches were truly elocjuent. they were fine etforts of legal 
talent, and so great was the interest taken in this trial that the ladies attended in 
goodly numbers until a late hour at night, detennined to hear all the proceedings 
and speeches to which the occasion gave ri.se. ^Miss Kate Johnson received great 
attention and unequalled admiration as the celebrated heroine and daughter of 
the renowned patriot of the Thousand Isles. The .iury after being out a short 
time returned a verdict of guilty; one was sentenced to the penitentiary- for two 
years and the others to a fine of two hundred dollars, which imprisimment and 
fines however were afterwards remitted ; for lo. and behold ! the next thing we hear 
of the hero of the isles, is that lie has grossly imposed himself upon the citizens of 
the place, he being a different man altogether from the Bill Johnson whom he 
represented, of a different name and style of character, a great thief and scoundrel. 
Letters were received showing these facts. The next news received from him 
by our crestfallen beaux of Dubuque, was that a j\lr. Peck, a respectable man in 
Mahaska county, the place to which the family had removed, fell in love with 
Johnson's daughter, the heroic Kate, who returned his hive. But old Bill would 
not give his consent to the marriage. So the two turtles fled to an adjoining 
eounty where they were united in bonds matrimonial. It was some time before 
the reputed father knew where his reputed daughter had gone. But as soon 
as he did. he pursued her and entered the house of Peck with pistol in hand and 
took her away i4nmolested. But a few days afterwards while Johnson was sitting 
in his own house he was shot through the heart with a rifle ball from between the 
chinks of the logs. Peck was arrested, but on trial acquitted. The lineage of the 
heroine was traced back to an obscure family in Ohio, her history and romance 
closing alike in contempt and infamy. 



-»-?r.--..rv«,-"C 



"'""' //'"^ 



r-^ 




BARNEY McSHANE CARIN 
Built in 1847 Near Spnngville 




CABIN IN "CRACKER SETTLEMENT" NEAR MT. VERNON 



A HERO OF THE CANADIAN REBELLION 105 

"Thf young swains, and especially the editorial gallants, who were so greatly 
enamortHl with the uhariiis of Miss Katheritic Johnson while in our city, often 
rallit>d each other afterwards on the sul),iect ; and some who appeared from their 
newspaper eulogies to he the most moon-struck wiiile the ronumce lasted, and had 
writti'n the largest amount of very soft poetrj* on the lovely daughter of the 
hero of the Thousand Isles, were the first to forget the ol).je<!t of their ador- 
ation. Al;is for the fickleness of man's afVection and thr inutjihility i>f his 
att^ichments, " 

The ahovc tells the story of how nuich trouble the various conununities in 
Iowa had with hogus liill Johnson and the various interjiretations of the life 
and character of the outlaw and his alleged daughter. Mr. Ellis still insists that 
his interpretation of the life and character of this outlaw is as he tells it and no 
one perhajjs knew the i)rincipal characters better than he did. .Mr. Ellis was tin- 
first one who met Johnson in Wisconsin a.s he was about to cmitjrate into Iowa, 
lie was one of the actors in the occurrence at the Philli])s House in Marion, he 
was the old friend and comiianion of William Abbe anil knew most of the men 
in the Beiuiett party, such as Evans. Parrish, Rowley, and others, and he met in 
California nuiny years afterwards the heroine who had become the wife of Peek 
and there had a conversation with both of them. Mr. Ellis is of the opinion that 
when Jnhn.sou suddenly left Marion he went to Missouri and later drifted back 
into Mahaska county, Iowa, where he was murdered. It was thought that Kate 
knew more about the murder than she let <in, but living a life as she had lived 
it would not be best for her to tell all she knew of the various transactions with her 
so-called father. So far as Mr. Ellis ascertained Kate had reformetl and carried 
herself in goodly repute among the miners of the far west where .she was then 
known, it is said, at times as the Queen of the Thousand Isles. Her husband, it 
is stated, was a reputable person and had always stood well in the comnuinitj' 
up to the time of the John.son murder, and what part, if any, he took in that no 
one evei- knew. 

Hogus Bill Johnson is said to lie buried in an unknown grave in Mahaska 
eoimty and no stone has ever been found that marked his last resting [ilace. 

Kate, Qtieen of the Thousand Isles, slee[)S in one of the mount^iin valle.vs of 
the Sierras on the Pacific slope and ni> one knows .iust when she died or where 
she Wius buried. The dual lives of the characters in this drama ended as all 
such lives do end, in infamy and disgrace. 



CHAPTER XV 

The Newspapers of the County 
BY FREDERICK J. LAZELL 

From the days of the early settlers until now the newspapers of Linn county 
have been among the most potent factors in the upbuilding of the community. 
They have been, as a rule, constnictive newspapei-s. Their mission has been to 
build up, to help their communities grow in wealth and influence. The news- 
papers of the county have been noted for their sagacity and their breadth of vision, 
their conservatism and their tolerance. They have exerted a strong and a whole- 
some influence upon this and adjoining counties. In the state at large their 
influence for good has not been small. 

The old adage that the good die young has not been true of Linn county's 
newspapers The best papers today are tho.se which were started in the earliest 
days of the various towns in this county. They have prospered as their respective 
communities have prospered. Their publishers and editors have been, for the 
most part, men with personal and property interests in their respective commun- 
ities. That is why they have been builders and boosters. Linn county's proud 
position among the counties of the state, commercially, intellectually, and politi- 
cally, is largely due to the fact that men of ability and integrity have worked 
ajid written and fought for the things they knew would be helpful to their 
constituents. And this is as true of the weekly newspapers as it is of the daily 
press. Verj" few counties in the state have had such an able corps of newspaper 
writers. 

There were .some weaklings, papers which were born and soon died. There 
have ])een a few freak newspapers. But not many. There have also been many 
able, brilliant young newspaper men who did good work in the Linn county edi- 
torial and newspaper otiKces for awhile and then left for larger fields of labor. 
Some of the county's ablest politicians and some of its most prominent business 
men have occasionally dabbled in newspapering, for the sake of some party or 
some pet project they were anxious to push through. That wa.s in the earlier 
days. There has been very little of it in the coimty of late years. 

In the main the newspaper men of the county have been men to the manner 
bom. with a knowledge of the business from the ground up, men to whom the 
smell of printer's ink is as essential to their enjoyment of life as the scent of the 
sea t« a sailor. If. as Elbert Hubbard tells us. art is the expression of man's 
joy in his work, then nine-tenths of the newspaper men of Linn county have 
been real artists, for they have stuck to their papers when they might have made 
heaps more money in some other line of business. But this love of the work so 
characteristic among the brethren of the Linn county press doubtless has some- 
thing to do with the fact that their readable papers are read and ((noted l)y the 
readers of other papers, from one end of the state to the other. 

No chronological list of the newspapers of Linn county has been published, 
but it is interesting and instructive, and worthy of preservation in permanent 
form : 

1851 The Progressive Era. started by D. 0. Finch, in Cedar Rapids. 

1852 The Prairie S!far, started at Marion by A. Iloyt. Same year the name 

was changed to the Linn County Register, by J. IL and G. H. Jennison. 



THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY 107 

1854 Name of the Progressive Era changed to the Cedar Valley Times. J. L. 
Enos assumes control. 

1856 Cedar Valley Farmer started in Cedar Rapids l)y J. L. Enos. This was 

a montlily ajn"icultural paper. 
Cedar liapid-s Democrat, started at Cedar Rapids by W. W. Perkins & Co. 

1857 The Voice of Iowa, started at Cedar Rapids by J. L. Enos. LattT this 

was called the School Journal. 

1863 Liiiii County Register bought by A. G. Lucas, who changes its name to the 

Linn County Patriot. 

1864 Linn County Patriot bought by Captain S. \V. Rathbun, who changes its 

name to the Marion Register. 

1865 The Franklin Record, started at Mt. Vernon by J. T. and J. S. Rice. 

1866 The name of the Franklin Record changed to the Mt. Vernon Citizen; 

passes into the hands of H. S. Bradshaw. 

1867 The Cedar Rapids Atlas, started by A. C Luca.s. Lasted three months. 

1868 Western World, started at Cedar Rapids. Republican in politics. ,]. L. 

Enos, editor. 

Linn County Signal, started in Marion by F. II. William-s. 

Cedar Valley Times changes its name to the Cedar Rapids Times. 
1861) The Slovan-Ameriky. started in Cedar Rapids by J. B. Letovsky. 

Linn County Sigyial moves to Cedar Rapids. 

The Daily Observer, started in Cedar Rapids by J. L. Enos and T. G. New- 
man, father of A. II. Newman. 

Linn County Hawk-Eye, started at Mt. Vernon by J. T. Rice. Purchased 
*he same year by S. II. Bauman, and its name changed to the Mt. 
Vernon Hawk-Eye. 

1870 The Daily Observer, which had been started as a democratic paper, changes 

its name to the Cedar Rapids Republican, and changes its politics to 
correspond. 

1871 The Linn County Pilot, started by C. W. Kepler at Jit. Vernon. 

1872 Name of the Cedar Rapids Republican changed to the Daily Republican. 
Linn County Signal becomes the Linn County Liberal. 

1873 The Lotus, started at Center Point by J. F. Wilson & Co. 

1874 The Linn County Pilot moved from Mt. Vernon to ^Marion by A. Beatty. 
The Linn County Liberal moves from Marion to Cedar Rapids and takes 

the name of the Standard. 
The Sun started at Lisbon by J. W. Zeigenfus. 
1876 The Cenler Point Mirror, started at Center Point by T. J. Jletcalf and S. M. 

Dunlap. 
187!) The Iowa Staats-Zcitung. started at Cedar Rapids liy A. Hunt. 
The Iowa Farmer, started at Cedar Rapids by Alex Charles. 
The Independent, started at Springville. editions also being printed for 

Prairieburg and Central City. 
The Stylus, started at Cedar Rapids by Ralph Van Vechten. 

1882 The People, started at Cedar Rapids by A. J. Huss. 

The iV^K' Era, started at Springville by J. F. Butler, pa.ssing the same .year 
into the hands of C. S. Shanklin. 

1883 The Walker \cws. started at Walker by David Brant. 

The Daily Gazette, started in Cedar Rapids l)y Otis & Post. 

1884 The Gazette Company organized in Man'h and takes over the Dady Gazette. 

In July all the stock purchased bv Fred W. Faulkes and Clarence L. 
Miller. 
The Saturday Evening Chat, started in Cedar Rapids by A. J. IIuss. 
The Linn County Pilot becomes the Marion Pilot. Rev. J. W. Chaffee, editor. 
1886 The Linn County Independent removes to JIarion. 



108 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

1888 Kviiidcn og Ujemniet, monthly illustrated magazine for the Norwegian 

and Danish women in America, with a Swedish edition, Quinnan och 
H emmet, started at Cedar Rapids by N. Fr. Hansen. 
The Neivs-Lcttcr, started at Central City. 

1889 Toun Topics, started in Cedar Rapids by Ernest A. Sherman. 
The Monitor, started at Coggon. 

1891 Saturday Eccord, started in Cedar Rapids l)v Sherman & Hatmaker. 

1891 The Herald, started at Lisbon by W. F. Stahl. 

189;^ The Record, started at I\It. Vernon by Lloyd ilcCuteheon. 

1902 Iowa Post brought to Cedar Rapids from Iowa City by Heni-j- Gundling. 

1908 The Tribune, established by the Cedar Rapids Federation of Labor. 
1906 The Cedar Eapid,-<ke Liste. Bohemian humorous weekly. 

The Optimus, started at Cedar Rapids by E. C. Barber. 

1909 West Side Enterprise, started December 30th by W. I. Endicott, owner and 

X)ublisher. 

Much of the early history of Linn county, and more especially of Cedar Rapids, 
is interwoven with the history of the Progressive Era. which aft<=rwards became the 
Cedar Rapids Times. The Progressive Era was established by D. O. Finch in 
185L It was democratic in polities and claimed to be devoted to the interests of 
Cedar Rapids and Linn county. It was a seven column, four page paper, and 
rather a credit to the town at that time. Wonse papers have been published since. 

It was but a short time until Mr. Finch had all the newspaper experience he 
wanted. Josepli Greene then purchased the paper and ran it until 1851. During 
this time Ezra Van Metre, James J. Child. Esq., and James L. Enos were suc- 
cessively its editors. 

James L. Enos had something to do with nearly every paper that was started 
during the early days of Linn county. He loved the smell of printer's ink. The 
types had a fascination for him. He delighted to see his thoughts reproduced in 
print. In September, 1854, he and P. Augustus Williams pureha.sed ;\Ir. Greene's 
interest in the Progressive Era. They changed the name to the Cedar Valleij 
Times. They changed the jiolitics of the paper from democratic to the new 
Americanism of that time. Then came the organization of the republican partj'. 
Like other adh(;rents to the American party living in the north, the editors of the 
Times cast in their lot with the new republican party and warmly advocated and 
defended the principles on which it was founded. 

One J. G. Davenport figures also in the early history of the Times. He had 
acquired an interest in the paper, and diiring the campaign he was its nominal 
editor, although there were not wanting those who declared that he had not the 
ability to write a three line notice of a crhurch supper, let alone an editorial. Any- 
way, he made the Times his stepping stone into the postmaster's seat, and his 
conduct of that office was such that an investigation of his shortages followed. 
His bondsmen, one of whom was the late J. J. Snouffer, made good the loss, and 
shortly afterwards Davenport, after some more operations of a minor character 
and similar nature, left Cedar Rapids. 

They were rare old political fighters in those days. Politics, rather than news, 
was the chief end and aim of the owner of a newspaper. When Greene, Merritt 
& Co. closed out Davenport, having held a bill of sale on the Times office, the 
Times was made the personal organ of Colonel William H. Merritt in his cam- 
paign against Kirkwood. To do this it had to change from republicanism to 
democracy, but it waged a hot fight. Colonel Merritt being its editor. However, 
Kirkwood was elected and in 18fi2 C. M. Hollis purchased the Times and he made 
great success of it up to IHfifi when he disposed of the paper to Ayers and 
McClelland. 

j\Iuch might be written about some of the old printers who helped to publi.sh 
those early Linn county newspapers. There has been a host of them and they have 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, LISBON 




MAIN STREET, MT. \'ERNON 



THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY 10!) 

includi'ci SDiiie uotable men. One was no le^s.s a i)ei"sonage than Mr. liosewater, of 
the Oinalia Bee, who onee worked as a journeyman printer in the office of the 
Slovan-Americky. It wa-s when he was on his way to the west. Some 
of the old printers have long since passed away. One of the latest of them was 
Stephen ^l. Jones, who died at Hampton four years ago. Concerninsr his work 
here in Cedar Rapids, Captain J. O. Stewart, liimself one of the veteran printei"s 
of the stat€, writes interestingly as follows : 

"Stephen Jones commenced to leani the trade in the I'rogir.isivf Era office in 
this city, in the year 1851. serving a four years' apprenticeship, at the end of 
which time he went to Vinton and worked in the Eagle office, at that time con- 
ducted by Fred Layman, I believe. The office of the Progressive Era was located 
on the conier of First street and Third avenue, where the Wartield-Pratt-IIowell 
wholesale building now stands, and was the first paper published in Cedar Rapids. 
It was an old frame building erect<>d by the Greene brothers and formerly used 
as a store room. At the time of this story the lower floor front was used on 
Sundays by the Kpisc()[ial church for service, the printing office was overhead and 
the back part, three st.ories, including basement, was used as a store room for 
dressed hogs. 'Steve.' a.s he was called, and your correspondent were what was 
known as 'printer's devils.' After some years residence in Vinton Steve got 
about a wheelbarrow load of material and started his paper in Hampton and 
christened it the Hampton Chronicle, which is still among the live, able newspapers 
in Iowa. He was later appointed postmaster of Hampton, whi<'h iiosition he held 
for twelve years. 

' ' There is one other who would rank with us if he is still living, and he wa.s a few 
years ago, on his farm near Lone Tree in Johnson county. His name is Dan 
Shatter. Dan, with a Mr. Foster, whose first name I have forgotten, were employed 
in the office doing the work on the Iowa Supreme Court Reports by Justice George 
Greene, formerly of this city. This was a book of some 600 or more pages and an 
edition of oOO volumes. This book can be found on the shelves of many of the 
Iowa lawyers, especially the older jiractitioners. This work was all done on a 
Washington hand press and 500 imi)ressions was considered a good day's work. 
Steve's principal business, until he was relieved by the writer, was to ink the 
forms from which the impressions were made. This was done by j)a.ssing over 
the type forms two large rollei-s made of glue and molasses, leaving and returning 
onto a large wooden roller revolved by a crank at one end, which process eipially 
distributed the ink which was applied to the two rollers by a still smaller one 
and designated the 'brayer' — old printers will recognize the article. For nearly 
two years this wius the principal part of the writer's duties. ii;tci-spers<^d with 
hunting up and down thi' banks of the river dragging out floating slabs that got 
away from the saw mills up at the dam, for fuel for the office, the proprietors 
being too poor to buy cordwood at $1.75 per cord. The paper was published by 
Dan 0. Finch who later became distinguished as a lawyer of high ability. The 
last I knew of him. a few years ago. he was still living, making his home with a 
son some place on the Pacific coast. — Seattle, I believe. The other publisher was 
"William Williams, son of Chief Justice Williams of this state. The material 
was owned by the Greene brothers. Some time later the Era office was moved 
to the building that stood on the corner where the Rudolph store now is. The 
proprietors changed hands pretty often, and finall.v the paper came into the hands 
of Robert and LeRoy McCahe, older brothers of the famous Chaplain Charles C. 
MeCabe. who then clerked for Greene Bros, in their store under tlie printing 
office. The Masonic lodge room was in the third story of this building. While 
the McCabe brothers conducted th(> paper your correspondent graduated and 
started out as a full fledged .iourneyman [)rinter. It may be of interest to the 
craft of the day to give your c()rres[iondent's salary. The first year he was to 
receive $35. se<-ond $50. third $75, and the fourth the princely sum of $100. 



110 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Out of this he was supposed to pay his board and furnish his clothing. The first 
job he secured after his apprenticeship was $10 per week and pay his own board. 
This was in the year 1856. 

"The tramping jour, printers of those days, like Bret Harte's Heathen 
Chinee, were peculiar. As a class they were the best of workmen ; bright and in- 
telligent, knowing the 'art preservative' thoroughly, but possessed of that roving 
disposition so common to all printei-s of that time, and many of them given to 
drink. They would work for a time and get a little ahead and then get on a 
'toot' and seek newer fields. They often resorted to peculiar methods to procure 
a job. I recall an incident while I was yet the 'devil' of the Era office. It was 
on the day we were moving the office to the new quarters. The heavy press and 
material had to be skidded from the second fioor to the ground through a large 
door in the front of the building. When the heavier part of the press was 
partly down a rather tall, strong built, intelligent looking man put in an appear- 
ance. He watched the process for a short time not saying a word. Finally he 
took from his pocket a slip of dirty paper and wrote on it ' don 't you need some 
help?' and handed it to the proprietor, Mr. Robert IMcCabe. He was asked if 
he could talk. His reply was simply by signs indicating that he was deaf and 
dumb. He proved an excellent help and stayed for more than three months, 
never indicating that he could speak. He was a skilled printer, but cro.ss and 
particular, and often we 'devils' called him hard names to his face. But his 
time had come and he nuist have his periodical, and he did. He threw his m(mey to 
the kids on the streets and had a jolly time, never once indicating he could 
speak. About the third day he came into the office and took ]\lr. McCabe to the 
lodge room above and wrote : ' What will they do to me if I talk ? ' Being assured 
that he would not be harmed and to the astonishment of the boss he reached out his 
hand and exclaimed, 'How are you Bob?' The same surprise was waiting for 
the rest of us, and you may be assured we 'devils,' who had been gi\nng him 
such choice names, were looking foi a chance to hide. He soon left and 1 never 
heard of him again. 

"As 1 have said, the publishers changed often, and for some time after the 
MeCabe brothers left the paper it was hard to tell just who did manage the 
paper, the Greenes owning the material. After many vicissitudes, which all 
the papers of that tarl.v day had to pass through, it fell into the hands of Joseph 
Davenport, a practical printer who associated with him James L. Enos. well 
known and well n^membered by the earlier settlers, who changed the name of the 
paper and re-christened it the Cedar Valley Times. Later it was changed to the 
Cedar Rapids Times, and was, after changing hands many times, finally owned 
by Dr. McClelland and L. M. Ayers, who published it for years, when it 
finally died of old age, owned and published by Dr. McClelland. The old Pro- 
gressive Era was the original progenitor of your present Daihj Times." 

Full of interest are those old files of the Times which deal with the beginning 
of the war period in the history of Linn county. There is the description of a 
"democratic field day" in Cedar Rapids, October 10, 1860, when Stephen A. 
Douglas came over from Iowa City and spoke to the multitude. Bands came from 
Vinton and Mt. Vernon ; drum corps from Bertram and Cedar Rapids. A local 
merchant bought a barrel of good whiskey, diluted it sufficiently to accommodate 
the capacity of the six thousand who made up the audience, sold all of it and 
counted the meeting as the best thing which ever had happened in Cedar Rapids. 
There was a parade of the "Wide-awakes" that night, and the visiting bands 
remained over to furnish a part of the inspiration. There were big posters, 
beginning with the couplet 

"O, dinna ye hear the slogan, boys? 
'Tis Douglas and his men. ' ' 



THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY HI 

That gave tlie oditor of the liinc^ aii opijortunity to write the first scare liead 
wiiieh ever appeared in a Cedar Hapids newspaper. With the true newspaper 
instinct he retuciuliered tluit slogan and used it for a sting at the end of the 
licadline. This was tlie headline the week of the election : 

"ELECTION OVER 



ABKAIIA.M LINCOLN IS PRESIDENT-ELECT 



Shout the Glad Tidings, Exultinglv Sing; Old Al)e is Elected and Cotton Ain't 
King — Secession Rehuked — Popular Sovereignty Now Here — Fusion Woi-se 
Confoinided — The Hell Tolling for the Dead — I'nion Preserved — Dinna 
Ye Hear the Slogan." 

iMr. C. M. Ilollis. who was editor of the Cedar Valley Times from 1862 to 1866, 
gives an illuminating insight into tin- history of Ijinn county during the early days 
of the war: 

"My office in Cedar Rapids was naturally the meeting place of politicians. 
There the men who controlled or sought to control got together and talked 
plainly. And the plain talk of jjoliticians is verj' different from the phrasings 
wliich they use in public speeches. It was thus that our Linn county leaders 
reasoned. 'This war is t)ecoming something in which the whole people have 
intense interest. They will judge of men from the fact of iiarticipation or oppo- 
sition. When the struggle is over the men who control in politics will he those 
who liave hccn sokliei-s. ' And so these men went after commissions. They were 
wise and far-seeing and reai)ed reward of their prudence as well as of their valor. 
I saw the commission of one Linn county man made out for the majoralty in an 
Iowa reginu'nt, not only before the regiment had been organized, hut even before 
a single company had been raised. I saw another for a colonelcy, fixed out ahead 
in the same way, by reason of political grace and pull. Not but what these men. 
and others, made good ofHcers. I am only exjilaining the reasoning which 
f)rompted some of them to enter service, and the means which were most eflfica- 
cious in securing prominent places. 

"And after a time it was considered that to get a high commission was tanta- 
mount to drawing a big political prize. Men were thus rewarded for their 
assistance given to successful candidates, and opponent.s found their way to army 
prominence beset with many obstacles. You know that a movement was started 
in Linn county to defeat Kirkwood for governor for the second term. This 
developed considerable s-trength. and a ticket was nominated with William 11. 
Merritt of Cedar Rapids at its head. Merritt had been lieutenant-colonel of the 
First Iowa, and his was known as the 'fusion' ticket. It was an attempt to 
combine 'war democrats' and some elements of the republican party. Kirkwood 
was successful, and those men who had .sought his defeat were, naturall.v, persona 
non grata with the state government. When commissions were going they were not 
remembered. Seymour D. Carpenter was one of the.se. But he did finally Ijecome 
surgeon of a regiment, liecause there was crying need for surgeons. Then when 
he was awa.v from gubernatorial influence promotion was rapid, and the doctor 
was given a p()sition as medical director of a deiiartment. Ellsworth N. Hates wa.s 
another who suffered because of participation in the anti-Kirkwo<id n\ovement. 
"Slv. Bates perei.sted. however, and his merits and standing could not be ignored. 
He was elected captain of a company. With his regiment he served with more 
than usual credit, until he sickened and came home to die. There were others 
in Cedar Rapids and in Linn county who had similar experiences. Some of those 
who are still living, if they woiUd but give full statements, would verify my re- 



112 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

mark that the proportion of polities mixed with the patriotism of those times was 
greater than is generally known. 

' ' Speaking of Ellsworth N. Bates recalls to mind one whose name deserves 
to be remembered in Cedar Rapids and in Linn county. He came t« the town 
fresh from college. He was a real scholar and a man of rare natural abilities. 
He had the art of making friends — of gaining and retaining esteem of all who 
knew him. He was one of the very best public speakers I have ever heard — 
quick to respond to varying occasion, with ready thought and a phenomenal 
command of language. His choice of words and use of appropriate imagery 
made his addresses models of their kind. As a lawyer he met with instant success. 
He represented Linn coiinty in the legislature, and was acknowledged a.s a strong 
man among the law-makers. He made a splendid fight for the state senatorship 
candidacy, against H. G. Angle. He was a.ssistant secretary of the second con- 
stitutional convention of Iowa. When the war broke out he was one of those who 
did much to rouse sentiment for support of the government. Then he raised 
Company A of the Twentieth, and proved himself a real soldier in camp and 
field. When he came home, near to death, he had lost none of his old enthusiasm. 
He and I were intimate friends, and to me he told his plans for the future. Had 
E. N. Bates lived, I know that he would have ranked among the real statesmen of 
Iowa. As it was he accomplished more and had greater influence upon contem- 
poraneous affairs than many whose deeds are very carefully preserved." 

Jlr. Hollis also tells us how newspapers were made in that awful period of 
the nation 's history : 

"W'e were not sensationalists in those days. The events that we had 
to chronicle needed no trickery of headlines or large type to command attention. 
Here are the lists of dead and wounded in an Iowa regiment at the battle of 
"Winchester," and the old editor opened a file of the Times for 1864-65. "Do 
you think it needed a fiaming poster effect to secure reading of that column, 
There are the names of friends and neighbors. To some of the readers of that 
paper those names represented their dearest ones. Those who had brothers or 
fathers, or sons or sweethearts in that regiment read over the battle lists with a 
fearful anxiety. We were giving weekly chronicle of facts — they have not yet 
been arranged into the order of definite history. When we wrote editorials it 
was not pretended that we understood all there was to the struggle. Only when 
and where we caught the partial views or grasped the immediate meaning of 
some development we gave our opinions. These may have been prejudiced by our 
personal sentiments or our political afifiliations, but I believe, as a rule, the edi- 
torial utterances of those years were from the souls of the writers and had the 
ring of sincerity. And, with but few exceptions, the newspapers of Iowa were 
loyal. They directed or seconded loyal sentiment on all occasions. Few of the 
editors of those weeklies gained wealth or distinction, but they deserve to be 
remembered for a splendid work. They, too, are among 'the forgotten worth- 
ies.' It cost money to run even a weekly paper during the war years. W^hen 
I began as publisher of the Times print paper cost $6 a bundle ; before the war 
was over I was paying $16 for the same quality and amount. And wages ran 
up and up, as printers were more difficult to secure; until I was paying double 
what I had first found necessary." 

At the close of the war the newspapers of the county began to turn their atten- 
tion to other evils. A wave of temperance sentiment s-wept the coimty, and some 
of the editors \\ere foremost among the fighters. The county was aroused by the 
great amount of crime. Jhich of it emanated from Cedar Rapids. "Can we 
expect," asked one writer in Cedar Rapids, "peace and quiet in a place of 3,000 



f^ ^Hk 






4es 




it 


^M.A 


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▼ 


.^p 


• 





ALKXANDER I.AUKANCK 
Long Prominent in Cedar Rapids 



THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY 113 

inhabitants whii-li supports not tVuer than nineteen li(iuur establishments and 
several houses of ill fame and does not support a single reading room nor a publie 
library?" 

Then, as now, the newspapers were the best "boosters" of their respective 
eommunities. They were the fii-st to point out the advantajjes in eaeh community 
and to suggest ways in wliieh natural advantages might lt>ad to eommereial growtli 
and eivie prosperity. Thus a writer in a t'edar Rapids paper, after enumerating 
and eommending the progress made by the town sinee its organization, dwelt 
upon the value of the water power, pointed out how the woolen mills then in o[ier- 
ation might be made more etTeetive. There was an abundance of timber around 
Cedar Rai)ids at that time and lie advocated the establishment of saw nulls in the 
city, lie saw no reason why staves should be brought all the way from Michigan 
to Cedar Rajiids, when they might as well be manufactured here at home. lie 
advocated that a packing house be established in this city, instead of shi|)ping the 
hogs from Cedar Hai)ids to (Jhieago and then shi|)ping the meat l)ack. "This 
is only one item that would keeji thousands of dollars in our town that now 
go out," he ai-gued. He wanted a hub and a spoke factory, a fanning mill fac- 
tory, and as for a "paper mill there is no better point in the state." 

History moves in ever repeating cycles and some of the things for which this 
old editor fought are still needed today in (jedar Rapids and in other to\TOS of 
Linn county. But each cycle is better than the last. Proof of this is .seen in the 
dispute which was waged over freight rates less than a decade after the Chicago, 
Iowa & Xebra.ska Railway had been built into this city. The grain rates from 
Cedar Rai)ids to Chicago were thirty cents a Innidred pounds anil the noise of 
protest which was made then was quite similar to the noise which is sometimes 

THE NEWSPAPER GR.WEV.ARl) 

The news()aper graveyard was established very early in the history of the 
county and it is still claiming its victims. Among its early victims was the 
Cedar liapids Democrat. It was issued by W. W. Perkins & Co. Somehow or 
other, democracy never tlouri.shed greatly in the Linn county new.spaper field, 
and the early democratic editors had not learned the art of switching to a "pro- 
gressive" side. So their papers died. The Democrat, lived a year and a half. 
It de.served a better fate, for it was well edited and printed. 

In 1853 a monthly agricultural paper called the Cedar Vatle;/ Farmer was com- 
menced by James L. Enos. It lived through the first volume, lint a grave was 
opened for it before it had ri^ai-hed the tender age of two years. 

The Voice of Iowa was commenced in Janiiar>-, ISoT. under the auspices of the 
Iowa Teachers and Phonetic a.s,sociations, James L. Enos editor-in-chief, a.ssisted 
by a board of eorrespimding editors. It was (;(mtinued through two volumes 
and was then merged with another .journal. 

In the autumn of 18(54 A. G. Lucas & Co. commenced the publication of the 
Cedar Rapids Atlas. In January', 1865, it was changed to a weekly. Then it 
was enlarged. Its place in the newspaper graveyard was prepared a few weeks 
later. The editor and publisher had gone to study the geograidiy of other fields, 
but he did not take his debts with him. The otTfice was sold to satisfy them. 
This so weakened the shoulders of the Atlas that it was not strong enougli to 
hold up. 

The We.itern M'orld was bom into a cold and unresponsive world, and soon it 
joined the ranks of the dear departed. 

Then came the Linn ('oiiiiti/ Siipial wliieh its authors hoped would t)e ii siirnal 
success. Hut its signals became tangled and it failed to kick over the Eroal of 
success. It kicked the l)ueket instead. T. (r. Xewiiian. the father of A. H. Xew- 
man of the Cedar Rapids Candy Company, purchased the remains. From them 



114 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

he made the office of the Daily Observer, vrith J. L. Enos as editor. Prom the 
Observer came the Cedar Rapids Republican. This was in 1870. In 1902 there 
was re-bom the Cedar Rapids Tiynes. The father Republican and the .strong and 
lusty son Times are both in tlie full vigor of their powers, and this evolution of the 
two powerful dailies from the amceba-like weakly Signal is the most conspicuous 
example of newspaper evolution and the survival of the fittest on record. 

The present Cedar Rapids Times is not to be confounded with the Cedar Rapids 
Weekly Times which had such a long and prosperous growth under the manage- 
ment of Editor Mollis, and later of the good Doctor McClelland. The Weekly 
Times lived until the death of Doctor McClelland, and it was a power for good. 
Then came two gentlemen from Milwaukee who converted it into a daily. They 
had a great run as long as their cash and their credit held out. Ajid they were 
good newspaper men, too. But they drew nearer and nearer the gateway to the 
great and yawning newspaper graveyard. There were many mourners in Cedar 
Rapids when the Times was buried. It had been purified before its death by its 
conspicuous work in a great tent revival conducted by an evangelist, M. B. Wil- 
liams. This revival the other dailies refused even to mention. The Times had 
a great deal of broadcloth endorsement. But the eulogies proved to be its pre- 
mature obituaries. Ca.sh came slowly. Advertising was coy. With the fall of 
the leaves came the death of the Times. The Gazette bought up the household 
furnishings, the subscription lists and the good will. But the Times was buried, 
and the ghost of competition which had haunted the Gazette office was laid until 
the owners of the present Evening Times resurrected the name amid a riot of red 
ink during the .strenuous municipal campaign of 1902. 

STANDARD HAD A LONG LIFE 

The Cedar Rapids Standard, like the Cedar Valley Times, had a long life. It 
was first established in Marion in 1868. as the Linn County Signal, by F. H. Wil- 
liams. Tlie following year it was removed to Cedar Rapids, and Thomas G. New- 
man became tlie owner. In 1872 the name was changed to the Linn County 
Liberal, and the office was moved back to Marion. In 1873 James T. Simpkins 
became editor. The following year the plant made a final trip to Cedar Rapids 
and was changed to the Standard. For a long time it fiourished. liaving a number 
of owners and editors. Among them were Thomas G. Newman, C. E. Heath, A. II. 
Newman, D. H. Ogden, H. A. Cook, Frank L. Millar, and in June, 1880, Charles 
H. Playte'", of the Des Moines Daily Leader, came to town and bought a half inter- 
est of Mr. Millar. The firm name became Millar & Playter. This partnership 
continued luiti! the fall of 1885, when Mr. Plaj-ter bought out his partner and 
became the sole o^v^ler. In the fall of 1886 ]\Ir. Playter sold the Standard to 
S. B. Ayers, who conducted it through the triumphal period of Iowa democracy, 
when Horace Boies sat in the gubernatorial chair. It was a strong democratic 
paper and had a large patronage in Linn coiuity at that time. Later L. S. Saner 
became the editor. But the hard times came. Rightly or wrongly they were 
blamed on the democratic party. Republicanism triumphed; ;\lclviuley was 
elected. The Standard of the democratic party was trailed in the dust. It soon 
died and took its place in the Cedar Rapids journalistic gi-aveyard. 

The Marion Pilot was established in 1871 at iSlt. Vernon, as the Linn County 
Pilot, and C. W. Kepler was editor In 1874 the office was removed to IMarion 
and the paper was owned by Beatty & Wliittits. It continued imder this manage- 
ment for several years and was one of the strong republican papers of the county. 
In 1884 it was purchased by the Rev. J. W. Chaffee and its name was clianged 
to the Marion Pilot. He built up a good paper, putting it in the front rank of 
the weekly papers of the state. But with his passing from the editorial chair 
and the rapid rise of the daily press in Cedar Rapids and its rival county seat 



THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY 115 

newspapers its power and prestiore waned. In 11)06 it yielded up the frhost and 
was assigned to an honored place among those tliat liave passed on. 

The Good Ones Jl'hicli Remain 

THE DAILY REPUBLICAN AND THE EVENING TIMES 

As narrated above, the Daily Rcpuhlican is the outgrowth of the daily 
Observer. In 1872 the Observer was transferred to the Republican Printing 
Company, and the name, which at first was the Cedar h'ajnds Republican, was 
changed to the Daily Republican, the present name of the paper. 

A daily and weekly issue was published and the paper grew rapidly. For a 
time it was edited by William B. Leach. In 1877 it passed into the hands of the 
Republican Printing Company, who put in a great amount of capital and en- 
larged the office. There were many editors during this period. In March, 1<SS1. 
the office was leased to J. R. Sage and D. G. Goodrich, with an option of sale within 
a year. During this period the paper was changed from an evening to a morning 
issue and an Associated Press franchise was secured, giving the paper full news 
service. 

Before the lease had expired Jlessrs. Sage and Goodrich had exercised their 
right to purchase the plant. On March 1. 1882. it was transferred to J. R. Sage, 
Johnson Brigham. Fred Benzinger, and H. P. Keyes. This quarti'tte reorgan- 
ized the old Republican Printing Company, with J. R. Sage as president. Nearly 
two years later 'S\r. Sage transferred his interest to Mr. Brigham, and later on 
Messrs. Keyes and Benzinger transferred their interest to L. S. ^lerchant. ile.ssrs. 
Brigham and ^Merchant conducted the paper, Mr. Merchant as business manager 
and Mr. Brigham as editor, until 1892. when Mr. Brigham sold his interest and 
went to Des Moines to start the first Iowa literary magazine, the Midland 
Monthly. Mr. Sage had previously gone to Des Moines to become the director 
of the Iowa weather and crop ser\'iee. 

Mr. Brigham "s interest was purchased by Luther A. Brewer, who had been 
assistant business manager, W. R. Boyd, who had done some editorial work for 
the paper while living at home in Cedar county, and by L. S Merchant. The 
paper was at the beginning of what seemed to be an uninterrupted period of 
ownership and prosperity when death suddenly claimed Mr. Merchant in 18IM. 
Jlrs. Merchant retained her husband's interest and the paper went on as before 
and waged a fight against free silver in the campaign of 1896 which made it 
nationally prominent. Mr. Brewer in the meantime had built up a very large 
job printing and book binding department. 

In 1898 the entire plant was sold to II. G. McMillan, of Rock Rapids, at that 
time l'nit<»d States district attorney, and Cyrenns Cole, who had for many years 
been a.ssociate editor of the Iowa State Register. Mr. Boyd became postmaster 
at Cedar Rapids, but Mr. Brewer remained with the paper as its ])usiness manager 
for some time. An evening edition, the Evening Times, was started in 1902. 
and made a rapid growth. It now has the largest circulation of any daily paper 
in Cedar Rapids. 

In 1907 Mr. Brewer left the business and opened up a big book-making plant 
of his own known as The Torch Press. In July of the same year however. The 
Torch Press bought out the interest of Mr. JlelMillan and the Daily Republican 
and the Evening Times have since been owiied and published by Messrs. Brewer 
and Cole. The substantial building on Second avenue which had been erected 
during the regime of Messrs. Brigham and Merchant proved far too small and the 
property was .sold. A large and modem newspaper and book-making building, 
four stories high, was erected at the corner of Fourth avenue and Third street, 
the present home of the Daily Republican, the Evening Times, The Torch Press 



116 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

Printeiy and Biudery, and The Torch Press Book-shop, which latter is managed 
by William Harvey Miner and is the biggest and most largely patronized book 
shop west of Chicago. 

THE EVENING GAZETTE 

There is not a great deal of "history" concerning the Cedar Rapids Evoiing 
Gazette, which ha.s been one of the conspicuous successes among Iowa daily news- 
papers since it was started in 1883. On June 10 of that year, the daily Gazette 
was fomided by ^Messrs. Otis and Post. A weekly issue of the paper was started 
at the same time. In March, 1884. the Gazette Company was organized, and in 
July of that year the entire stock was purchased by ilessrs. Fred W. Faulkes and 
Clarence L. ;\Iiller. The paper has had the same ownership ever since that time. 
The lat^? editor Faulkes was a pungent and versatile writer, and under his edi- 
torial management the Gazette rapidly rose to a commanding position in the Iowa 
newspaper field. It began as a republican newspaper. But after the memorable 
Frank D. Jackson campaign in 1893 Editor Faulkes became estranged from Gov- 
ernor Jackson and some of the other leaders of tiie republican party. Thereafter 
he was inclined to espouse the cause of democracy and the Gazette came to be re- 
garded as the democratic newspaper of Linn county. Still later it grew more 
independent, in matters of polities. 

Since the death of Fred Faulkes the Gazette has been published under the 
supervision of its business manager Clarence L. ililler. Like the other dailies 
of the city it has abandoned the weekly field. 

THE SATURDAY RECORD 

The Saturday Record is the outgrowth of a little amateur paper started away 
back in 1879 by Ralph Van Vechten, at present vice-president of the Continental 
and Commercial National Bank of Chicago. He was then a student with a taste 
for printer's ink and he started a little literary paper, known as the Stylus. Soon 
after that he was joined by Arthur J. Huss, and the two of them ran the Stylus. 
In the spring of 1882 Mr. Van Vechten went into his uncle's bank. The paper 
pas.sed into the hands of A. J. Mallahan, and aitcr a little time was temporarily 
discontinued. But Mr. Huss gained new courage and perhaps new capital. Sep- 
tember 10, 1882. he started the Cedar Kapids People. It continued as a seven 
column folio until ilarch, 1884, when it was bought by Fred Benziuger and R. 
Baer and its name changed to the Saturelay Evening Chat. July 1, 1887, Fred 
Benzinger bought out Mr. Baer's interest and ran the paper for a number of years 
until he went to Chicago, where for a time he was one of the prominent figures on 
the old Chicago Times-Herald. Then the paper was acquired by B. R. Hat- 
maker, forever famous because of the sobriquet for Cedar Rapids which flashed 
into his mind one dreamful day — "The Parlor City." 

In 1889 Ernest A. Sherman came to this city and was city editor of the morn- 
ing Republican for a while. In February. 1891, he started Town Topics. He 
ran it until late in the spring of that year and then he consolidated with Hat- 
maker's Saturday Record. He became the editor, and Hatmaker was business 
manager until 1892 when Mr. Sherman bought the whole business. Since that 
time the Record has been a permanent feature in Cedar Rapids, the largest and 
neatest of the weeklies, being printed in quarto form on book paper with many 
illustrations and spicy comment on "mentionable matters" of Cedar Rapids, 
with all the local news well edited. 

THE IOWA POST 

The Iowa Post was foimded in April. 1881. at Iowa City. After pa.ssing 
through the hands of several owners, it was purchased in March, 1902, by Henrj' 




OLD M. K. CHURCH, MT. VEKNUN 



f 





STKEKT SCKNE IN LISBON 



THE NEWSPAPKRS OF THE COUNTY 117 

(jiliiidling of Chieagc) and ttrouf^lit to tliis city. .Mr. Guiidlinf^ cliaiigcd the paper 
from a weekly to a semi-weekly aiid in an incredibly short time he had trebled 
the number of his subscribers. Mr. (lUiidling had a high school education in 
Germany, folii>\ved by an apprenticeship liicre of three years. He had sixteen 
years experience in Chicago and he has travelled extensively on three continents. 
He is. therefore, tlioroughly equipped as an editi>r and this accounts for the high 
standard of his paper which is eagerly read l>y a very large constituency in this 
and adjoining counties and especially at the colony of Amana. 

THE WEST SIDE ENTERPRISE 

The \V(sl Side Kiihrprisf is one of the latest newspai)ers in the Linn county 
field, having been started December 30, 19()1). Hut it is one of the liveliest as well 
a-s one of the latest. \V. I. Endicott is the owner and publisher, and he is a whole 
newspaper force in himself. Ever>' issue of the Eiili rprist contains something 
which makes somebiKly sit up and take notice. It is a paper devoted to the work 
of bix)ming the west side; but it is read on both sides of the river by an ever in- 
creasing number of readers. 

IOWA STAATS-ZEITUNG 

The Iowa Staais-Zeitung was established in the year 1879 by A. Hunt, who 
continued ius publisher and editor for many years — until he retired from the 
uew-spajier business. The pa[)er was then bought by John Young and afterwards 
sold to the Charles Stoudt Printing Company, who came from Des Moines to 
Cedar Rapids to make their home. The company consists of Charles Stoudt, the 
publisher, and E. J. Stoudt. editor. The paper is one of the largest Grerman 
weeklies in the state, publishing from twelve to twenty-four pages each issue and 
^oing all over the state. It guarantees to have the largest eircidation of au.v 
German paper published in Iowa. 

OTHER CEDAR RAPIDS PAPERS 

Several other Cedar Rapids newspapers ought to be mentioned. The Cedar 
Raimh Lisii/. a B<ihemian humorous pajier. was established in 1906. Fr. TIradecky 
is its editor and |)ublisher. The Optimiis is a republican weekly edited by E. C. 
Barl>er, and is a most uncompromising fcv of demtx-racy in all its form. It was 
established in 1906. The Slnvau-Ainrriku is a deniiKTatie Bohemian paper, one 
of the oldest, for it was established in 1869 and has held the even tenor of its wa.v 
since that time through the sunshine and .storm of demm-racy. John B. Letovsky 
& Sons are the editors and publishers, and they have l)een putting out a good 
paper week in and week out. year after year. 

The Trihuiu is the organ of the Federation of Labor in Cedar Rapids. It 
was started in 1903 and has had a remarkable success. Its first editor wa.s G. F. 
Taylor who gave the paper a great start and it is now edited by R. G. Stewart, 
who fills its columns full of gingery stuff week after week and shines best when 
there is a big political scrap on hand. 

THE MARION REGISTER 

In 1852 one A. Hoyt came all the way from New York to blaze the way of 
modem journalism on the prairie.* of Iowa. He established a paper called the 
Prairie Star. But the Star didn't shine long. .Mr. Hoyt found lown so differ- 
ent from old New York. Like the wise men of the east, after he had let go of 
most of the treasures he brought with him he retraced his steps to the east and 



118 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

the paper pa-ssed into the hands of J. H. and G. H. Jennison. They were Whig* 
with a big W and they renamed the Star as the Linn County Register. 

When the republican party was organized, the Limi County Register became 
one of it* most able and enthusiastic advocates in the county. The late Judge 
N. ]\I. Hubbard was in active politics at that time and during that memorable 
campaign he conducted the Register. Ah, "thim were the days." The judge 
was a past master in the art of "skinning" an opponent. That was the method 
of political fighting in those days and no editor ever had a sharper knife than 
Judge Hubbard. He used to say in later years that it was one of the most enjoy- 
able periods of his whole life. 

' ' I made the paper grow, ' ' he said. ' ' Everybody wanted to get it to see whose 
hide was put on the fence that week " 

The judge lived to tell the tale, but after the fun was all over and the battle 
had been won he decided that railroad law practice was more profitable than 
editing a newspaper. The Register passed back into the editorship of J. H. Jen- 
nison. The next year Robert Holmes became its editor and subsequently its 
proprietor. He held this position for five years and it was five years of the most 
important period in the history of the county. Mr. Holmes successfully con- 
ducted the paper through the great struggle of the Civil war, and up till 1863 
when he sold it to A. G. Lucas. Its name was then changed to the Linn County 
Patriot. 

In September, 1864, there came from Cedar county, a yoxuig soldier-lawj'er, 
S. W. Rathbun. He purchased the plant and changed the name of the paper to 
the Marion Register. He has been editor of the Register ever since that time. 
He has a few more gray hairs, a few more wrinkles, and a bit more avordupois 
than he had them, but he still wields a trenchant pen, still makes the Register a 
readable and interesting paper. It has been one of the most influential papers 
among the weekly press of Linn coimty, and has always been firmly republican. 

THE MARION SENTINEL 

The Marion Sentitiel was originally called the Springville Independent, being 
established at Springville in the year 1879 by Fred Chamberlain, who afterwards 
served as county superintendent of the schools of Linn county. It was a seven- 
column folio, independent in politics, the forerunner of the independent papers 
of the county. It grew rapidly, and by 1884 had increased to a twelve-page paper. 
An edition was also published for Prairieburg, and one for Central Citj'. In 
1885 it had a circulation of 1600. It met with some reverses in 1886 and on July 
1 of that year it was moved to Marion and its name changed to the Linn County 
Lndependent. Mr. Chamberlain made a big success of it in Marion. The name 
of the paper was then changed to the Marion Sentinel. Later 0. M. Smith was 
taken into partnership. The paper then changed from an independent to a 
democratic paper, and has remained democratic until the present time, the only 
simon pure democratic paper in Linn county at the present time. 

In Jul.y, 1891, Mr. Smith sold the paper to Jlr. J. J. Galliven, at that time 
employed as train dispatcher for the Milwaukee railroad. He conducted it for 
less than three months, selling it on September 19, 1891, to its present owner, 
T. T. Williams. During the greater part of the time since then C. S. Shanklin, 
one of the ablest political writers of the state, has been in charge of the Sentinel's 
editorial page. The paper is one of the brightest and newsiest in the county. 

THE MT. VERNON HAWKEYE 

That splendid Linn count.v paper, the Mt. Vernon Hawkeye, was established 
January 1, 1869, by J. T. Rice, as the Linn County Hawk-Eye. Mr. Rice wasi 



THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY 119 

well known in the early historj- of the county, iuid in late years wa-s a resident 
of Denver, Colorado, where he died within the past year. 

The llawk-Kyc was boupht by S. II. Hauinan on June 1, 1869, within five 
months after tiie paper was established, and its name was ehaiitjed to the Mount 
Vernon Ilauk-Eye. Jlr. S. II. Haurnan eoiitinueil the business and was joined 
in partnership by his .son, A. A. Hauiiian, January 1, 18!)2. On July 1, 18!)t), 
S. H. Bauiuan retired entirely, and the paper was then conducted by his sons, 
A. A. and Fred A. Bauman. This partnership was dissolved Xovember 17, 
1909, since which time the paper has been published by A. A. Bauman. 

The paper has always hcon republican in politics and has never been shaken 
by the winds of temporary poi)ular pre.judice or passion. It has had an abiding 
conviction of political honesty and intc<,'rity and it has bc<'n conducted on a high 
plane. It has rendered good service in the iniilding up of Mt. Vernon and the 
county generally. 

THE WALKER NEWS 

Tlie ^^'(^lkfr News w-as established as a seven-column folio in February, 1883, 
by David Brant, at present the owner and editor of the Iowa City Daily Re- 
publican. He continuctl as owner and editor for seven years, and then the paper 
pa.ssed to the hands of Charles A. Durno, Mr. Brant going to Cedar Rapids to 
become city editor of the Gazette. 

In July, 1891, Mr. Durno sold a hiilf interest in the business to C. 0. and J. 
Barry, who. in Januarj', 1892. acquired the remaining half interest, Mr. Durno 
retiring. Mr. Durno was later appointed to a position in the government print- 
ing office at Washington, D. C, and died in that city a few years ago. The 
Barrj's are still in pos.session of the News, which is one of the brightest and most 
influential newspapers in the county. 

THE CENTER POINT JOURNAL 

The Center Pennt Journal is a republican weekly, owned and edited by J. A. 
Mahuran, one of the ablest of the Linn county newspaper men. The paper has 
had its ups and downs and for a time it was chiefly not^d for its ardent camfi 
paign for a fishway in the dam across the Cedar river at Cedar Rapids. That 
was during th(> days of Editor Barber. 

The Journal grew out of the Lotus which was started at Center Point. Mav 
15, 1873, by J. F. Wilson & Co. T. J. Metealf wa-s its Hrst editor, and he filled 
the leaves of the Lotus with spice and sweetness until 1874 wlien W. T. Baker 
took charge and .subsequently committed suicide. But that was not the fault of 
the Ijotus. The office was then sold to H. A. Cook, of Cedar Rapids. 

In 1876 T. J. Metx-alf and S. M. Dunlap purchased the plant and changed the 
name of the paper to the Center Point Mirror, tlie first issue appearing Xovember 
18. Then ilr. Metcalf bought out Mr. Dunlap "s interest, and afterwards G. L. 
"Wilson bwame the owner, changing its name to the Courier-Journal. M. A. O.xley 
and Charles F. Floyd afterwards bought the paper and it finally reached the 
hands of its present owner. 

THESPRINGVILLE NEW ERA 

Springville is one of the be.st of the Linn county towns and it has one of the 
best of the Linn coimty papers, the S[)ringville New Era. Its first issue appeared 
Augtist 9. 1882. It was a six-cohunn folio, independent in politics, and was 
established by J. B. F. Butler. In Xovember, 1882. C. S. Shanklin became it.s 
editor. At this time it was changed to a six-<'olumn (|uarto. It became a dem- 
ocratic paper but lately grew towards independence in politics, a growing ten- 



120 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

dency among modern newspapers. There were some more changes of ownersliip 
and finally the paper was i)urehased by 0. E. Crane, its present publisher and 
editor, under whom it has risen to a popularity and prosperity never before 
attained. 

THE LISBON' HERALD 

Lisbon has one good weekly, the Herald. The ISiin was the first paper having 
been started August 27, 1874, by J. W. Zeigenfus. It was not a success at the 
start, or at least it did not bring in the coin of the realm rapidly enough to suit 
its proprietor, and he soon sold it to C. J. Weatherbee. lie held it for a few 
weeks and sold it to W. T. Baker. Baker managed it admirably for a time but 
he later shot himself through the head in his office and for a time the paper was 
conducted by W. L. Davis for his widow. Then the Rev. Dewalt S. Fouse became 
its editor and did some good work upon it. So did A. M. Floyd, one of the best 
of Linn county's newspaper men. But finally the Sun went down. 

The Herald has been vigorous and active and prosperous since it was estab- 
lished in 1894 aud it was never so prosperous as now. I'nder the able manage- 
ment of Will F. Stahl the paper has grown in size and in circulation and every 
issue is filled with up-to-date news and interesting comment. It is a paper of 
which Lisbon should be proud. 

CENTR^AL CITY NEWS- LETTER 

Situated in a valley of entrancing beauty, the valley of the Wapsie river. 
Central City is one of the most beautiful towns in Iowa aud it certainly is lone 
of the most up-t«-date. ]\Iuch of its growth and its prestige is due to the fact 
that for man}' years it has had a first-class newspaper. The Central City News- 
Letter, which was started in 1888, has had a line of able men as its editors and 
they have all done their best to make the city grow. None of them ever worked 
harder at it than E. S. Weatherbee, who is the owner and the editor of the paper, 
the postmaster, the mayor, and an all-around booster for his town. 

THE COGGON MONITOR 

Since 188(1 Coggon has had a newspaper, the Coggon Monitor. It has had a 
number of owners, but it is established on a firm basis. Clarence Cole was the 
editor until April of this year, when he sold the paper to William Crosier. 

THE MT. VERNON RECORD 

In 1893, the Mount \'erno)i Record was established and it has had a successful 
and gratifying growth under the management of Lloyd IMeCutcheon, its publisher 
and editor. Advertising came slowly at first, as it always does to a new paper, 
but at present the merchants of ]\Il. Vernon are giving it good support. The 
paper has been " progressive " — strongly progressive in its editorial policies 
and there are many progressives in that neighborhood who have backed it. 



i 




SCHOOL, FAIRFAX 




METHODIST CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, FAIRFAX 



CHAPTER XVI 

The BohcjiiKin Kli'tiicnl in llit- C,ount\ 

It is not tlio purpose of this liistory to note in esi)ecial manner all the ilirt'ercnt 
nationalities that have entered into the niakino; of our eosnioi)olitan population. 
America is peopled l>y sturdy men and wnmen who have come to this land of 
opportunity and freeiiom from all the civilized nations of the world. It is the 
amalgamation of these different races and peoples that lias done much to give us 
our sturdy eitizenshi|). Driven from their old homes by persecutions or the de- 
sire to better their condition, they have come to America aiitl have hel])ed jiopu- 
late our prairies and dcvelope our cities. They have needed the opportunities 
here given them, and we have needed them in our work of erecting on this continent 
a nation that shall he an example to all tlie nations. 

By far the largest and most important element of foreign extraction rei)re- 
sented in Linn countj- is the Bohemian. Some of our townships are almo.st 
entirely populated- by these progressive immigrants and their descendants, and 
a goodly ])ercentage of the resident.s of Cedar Hajiids trace back their Slav 
aneestrj' to old Bohemia. These people )iave always made good citizens. They 
possess the desirable faculty of adapting themselves readily to new environments. 
Without destroying their own vigorous vitality, they grasp fpiiekly the best there 
is in our thought and mode of life. They have borne nobly their share of the 
burdens incident to the establishment of new centers of civilization and of pro- 
gress. They have acted their part in our civic life. They have adapted themselves 
to and have adopted our institutions. They have helped and are licli)ing to make 
the county and the city centers of growth and prosperity. Trained through the 
years in habits of economy, and forced through necessity to kecj) up these habits, 
their life here has often been an incentive to others to go and do likewise. I^overs 
of the home, their aml)ition is to possess their own abiding place, and that as 
quickly as possible. The Bohemians are not renters. They are a class of home 
owners, and nothing is so potent for stability in any community as this trait on 
the part of its pei>ple. They are indeed a thrifty ]ieople. such as every state and 
county and city ghidly welcome. Their buildings, though many of them may 
he small, are substantial in their cliaract'r. The gardens and the grounds sur- 
rounding the dwellings in tlie towns an<l cities are neatly kept and attractive to 
the eye. Their farms are well tilled and as a result grow rapidly in productive- 
ness and value. 

Our Bohemian citizens bear their part in the administration of public affairs. 
And they always make good in the positions in which they are placed. They have 
helped make our city councils; they have been men of ability and of iuHuence on 
our sch<M)l boards. They are numbered among our successful merchants and 
bankers. Indeed, there is scarce a line of human endeavor in which they liave 
not been represented by men of capacity and of worth. 

At the request of the editors of this history Joseph Mekota, himself a splendid 
repre.sentative of a splendid people, contributes the followinir sketr'h of the Bo- 
hemian people to this volume: 

The history of the Bohemian people in Linn county does not differ greatly 
from the general liistor>- of this people in our country. Driven from their native 
land, on acc-finnf of political persecution and official oppression, they sought 



122 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

America as the haven of liberty and opportunity. They brought with them an 
abundance of patience, industry, perseverance, and hope. Their beginning was 
full of hardships, privations, and obstacles. Their chief capital was their health 
and willingness to toil, and their ability to stand hardship. These were their 
native heritage. Coming to this coimtrj^ poor, imacquainted with its customs, 
its language, and its laws, their beginning had but few silver linings. 

Despite these inauspicious surroundings these early pioneers were contented 
and happy. Physical and material hardsMps and trials were cheerfully borne 
for the joys and sweetness of political and religious liberty. Under the broad and 
clear skies of the religious, political, and intellectual tolerance of America they 
felt the realization of the unfulfilled dreams of the glorious but imsuccessful 
struggles of their ancestors a century ago. Such a fine spirit towards the highest 
ideals in life and civilization, combined with inexhaustible energj- and patience 
in industrial pursuits, has made this people loyal to our institutions and useful 
to the development and progress of our eountrj'. 

The early settlers came to this county with teams and wagons. At that time 
there were no railroads west of the Mississippi river. Many of them came from 
Caledonia, Wisconsin, with ox teams. Others came by railroad as far as the Miss- 
issippi river. One member of a family who came here in 1855 said: "They 
dumped us out at Muscatine and from there we hired teams and conveyances 
to take us to Cedar Rapids. "We moved south of the city and lived under a tree 
that summer. When we wanted to buy anything we took a sample of the article 
in one hand and the amount of monej' we wished to expend in the other and would 
show that to our neighbors and make them understand what we wanted." 

These early settlers devoted themselves to agricultural pur.suits. ilost of 
them located on or near timber lands so that they would have plenty of fuel. 
Fuel was very scarce in their native land, and it was easier to build their sheds if 
they were in the timber. The prairies at that time were not desirable for location. 
A large portion of College township, which is now the best farming country in 
the state of Iowa, at that time was full of marshes, and high grass, and strong winds 
prevailed so that the early settlers avoided the prairies and located in timber 
districts. 

The early Bohemian settlers came to Linn county about the years 1852 and 
1853. So far as kno\\'n, the following families were among the early pioneers : 
The Ligr family about the year 1852 settled east of Ely. John Posler. in the year 
1853, also located about eight miles southeast of the city. In 1854 or earlier, 
Paul Korab and his family settled about one mile east of the present town of 
Western, where also settled at that time John Witousek. The Korab family came 
here with an ox team from the st<ite of Wisconsin by way of Dubn(|ue. That 
year, 1854, Jacob Polak located about ten miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, and 
with him was Joseph Sosel. These families also came with teams from the state 
of Wisconsin. Anton Sulek located in the north part of Johnson county in 1854. 
and he afterwards lived near Hoosier Grove in this county on a beautiful, elevated 
spot called "Hradek," and meaning "Little Castle." ^lany other families came 
in 1855 and settled along the border line between Johnson and Linn counties, in 
College and Putnam townships. The numbers that came were not great, and it 
was not until after the Civil war that large numbers of these people came to this 
county. 

Among these people Joseph Sosel was a character of distinction. His 
scholarly attainments combined with his love of intellectual and political freedom 
easily made him the leader among his people. He was a political exile. He took 
an active part in the uprising of Bohemian studoiit>; in the year 1848. This 
movement was for more political rights and broader freedom for the people in 
Bohemia. The uprising did not meet with success, and for his patriotic activity 
a price was set upon his head by the Austrian government. With many other 



THE BOHEMIAx\ ELEMENT IN THE COUNTY 123 

studenUi, who were in the same predicament, he escaped to this country. With 
him came Karel Jonas, who afterwards became lieutenant-fjovernor of the state 
of Wisconsin ; and with them also came Vojtech Naprstek, who h'ft a name in 
Bohemian history that is known to everj' liohemian. 

In this locality Mr. Soscl rendered many valuahle services to his countrymen; 
being able to talk the English language, he became their legal and business ad- 
viser. He was loyal to his countrymen, and at all times insisted that they should 
learn and observe the customs of their new country. lie served faithfully the 
interests of his people, and his memory will forever be kindly remembered by 
them for the many and useful services which he faithfully rendered. 

Up tfl the time of the Civil war, the Bohemian immigration was slow, but 
from those that were here (juite a number enlisted from this countj' to preserve 
the integrity of their new country. Among those known who enlisted were the 
following: J. F. Bednar, Frank Renchin, Frank Peremsky, Jo.seph Wencel, Jos- 
eph Podhajsky. John Maly, Joseph Zahradnik, Charles Bednar, Joseph Ilorak, 
Weslej- Ilorak, Frank Dolezal, Joseph Dolezal. 

After the Civil war Cedar Rapids became a prominent center of Bohemian 
population. JIany came direct from their own country, others came from neigh- 
boring states, and still others came from the surrounding country in this state. 
So that at all times this city always had a large percentage of people of Bohemian 
origin, larger than any other city of its size in the state of Iowa. In the coimty 
they settled in Putnam. College and Frarklin townships. From the year 1866, 
afti?r the Prussian war in Austria, to 1880 were perhaps the banner years of 
Bohemian emigration to this country. These people all located in the city or 
southeast of the city. There are today in Cedar Rapids about 8.500 inhabitants 
of this nationality and about 2,500 more in other parts of the county. They are 
now scattered all over the county, but large and heavy settlements are in Putnam 
and College townships, these being almost exclusively settled by Bohemians. 
There is a large settlement in Fairfax township, and there are settlements in 
Franklin, Bertram, Boulder, and Grant townships. 

In agriculture they are successful farmers. No better improved farms, no 
better buildings, no better systems of farming exist in any other part of the state 
than in the communities settled by these people. They are progressive and up 
to date in all matters. They are hard working people and devoted to the interests 
of their farms. 

In Cedar Rapids they have also played an important part. A large majority 
came to this country ver>- lightly endowed with worldly goods, but they were 
strong in health and body and not afraid to work. A very large percentage of 
these people belong to the laboring da.ss. The women in the families worked as 
hard, if not harder, than the men. The first ambition of these people after their 
arrival in this country was to own a home. The father would work, the mother 
would work, and the children would work in order to buy and pay for a home. 
A great many of them bought vacant lots and improved them by erecting neat and 
comfortable dwellings. At times it was claimed they took their children out of 
school too early in order that they might work. In the early times there existed 
circumstances which could not ver>- well avoid this situation. The wages were 
low; families as a rule were large and in order to pay for a home and in order 
that the debts be paid, and to meet expenses, it was necessary in many cases to 
press the children into service. This custom became somewhat contagious among 
the men, women, and children. One family was bound to earn and make as much 
money as its neighbors, and therefore had to have as many members of the family 
working. It is a .soun'c of congratulation that this custom, which had l)ccn one 
of nece.s.sity. is now losing ground among the ranks of this nationality and their 
children are kept in school as long as any children among other American jicople. 



124 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The Bohemian people from the very first held tenaciously to their mother 
tongue. Wliile they were loyal t« our public schools and other institutions, they 
took steps t« preserve and cultivate the mother tongue among themselves and their 
children. As early as 1868 a society called the "Reading Society" was organized. 
The purpo.se of this society was to cultivate the Bohemian language ; give aid to 
Bohemian schools; furnish the hest books of Bohemian literature to the people of 
our city, and in everj' way possible t« promote and awaken the love for Bohemian 
language and history among the people. It was a center of national life and 
spirit. In this laudable i)urpose the Reading Society of Cedar Rapids has met 
with unparalleled success. 

The society today owns a fine library of nearly 3,000 volumes of the best works 
of history, art, and literature in the Bohemian tongue. Besides this, the Reading 
Society has always been helpful, and largely instrumental in starting, promot- 
ing, and encouraging other organizations of national character. 

The Bohemian people are fond of the theatre and theatrical performances. 
At about the time that the R^^ading Society was organized, they started an asso- 
ciation for the purpose of giving theatrical performances in the Bohemian tongue. 
The plays given were popular and successful, and on many occasions there was 
displayed splendid histrionic talent among the members of this dramatic club. 
Their performances were always clean, instructive, and educational. Today we 
have in Cedar Rapids two large dramatic associations whose performances are a 
credit to our city and its people. 

In the matter of education, the Bohemian people always took an active part. 
Besides having their children attend the public schools, they took oppor- 
tunity to have them taught in the Bohemian language during their vacations and 
sometimes on Sundays. This was so from their earliest settlement. At first 
one or two rooms in a public school building were used. Later on a building 
costing over $8000.00 was erected for this purpose. The building stands on the 
comer of Second street and Tenth avenue. This building has the honored dis- 
tinction of being the only building in our whole country built and used exclusively 
as a Bohemian school. 

Another institution that has brought fame and favor to our city in educational 
circles, is the Council of Higher Education. This was founded here in 1902. It 
is an organization whose ol)ject it is to furnish honor loans without interest to 
poor but promising boys and girls of Boheinian origin to secure a college education. 
Since its organizaticm this institutiim has aided many young men and women 
who were without sufficient means to secure a college education. Last year it 
had sixteen students it was aiding in the various state iniiversities and colleges. 
Its operation is nation wide. It has students in New York. Michigan, Illinois. 
Texas, Nebraska, and Iowa. The funds of the institution are gathered by popular 
subscriptions among individuals and societies. Its scope covers every state in 
the LTnion where there is a Bohemian settlement. The institution has achieved 
wonders in encouraging young men and women of Bohemian nationality to attend 
universities and colleges. 

In musical circles the Bohemian people have distinguished themselves from 
early times. In the beginning when the Boheinian settlers came to this city they 
organized a musical society. This formed a nucleus for one of the most fam- 
ous musical bands in the state. Kouba's National Band achieved state wide 
reputation ; this band has always been composed of a large percentage of Bohemian 
musicians. 

In the material development of Cedar Rapids the Bohemian people have done 
their full share. In the ranks of labor they are known as honest, industrious, 
peaceable, and orderly. They are ver>- largely employed in all the big industrial 
institutions of our city. They command the confidence and respect of their 
employers. This nationality is also well represented in every line of business in 




THE CHAPEL, CORNELL COLLEGE 




CARNEGIE LIBRARY AND SPEER MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN, MT. VERNON 



THE BOHEMIAN ELEMENT IN THE COIN TV liT) 

i)\ir city. All the professions are reprcsi'iitfil. Wlu-ii we consiclcr that k'.s.>s tlian 
two generations ago their ancestors eanic here with l)are hands and not knowing 
the English language and iniaeciuainted with tlie customs and without any particu- 
lar advantages, except those of honesty and willingness to work, it is reinarkat)le 
that such strides forward have bivn made liy this nationality in the realms of 
labi)r. tiusiness. and the professions. 

In religious work the Boiieniian people of Linn county have accomplished 
splendid result.s. With the first settlers in this county, the Catlu)lies of this 
city had a place of worship. From its modest l)eginning there grew one of the 
largest congregations in the city. And what enthusiastic and untiring workers 
tliis churdi has! The congregation consists very largely of the laboring class, 
hut they have accomplislied wonderful results. A sjtlendid church building; a 
large parocliial school; an as.sembly hall and a new parsonage are the reward of 
the patience and jjerseverance among the members of this congregation. St. 
Wenceslaus church of Cedar Rapids witi; its manifold work and influence is a 
great honor to the people of Linn county. 

Way back in the late sixties, on a beautiful and secluded spot on Hoosier 
Creek, about one-half the distance between the present site of Kly and Western, 
there was erected a small church of the Reformed Evangelical denomination. 
There a band of devout men and women 'net to worship in the simple manner of 
the Moravian brothers. Their leader and minister was a man of grace, of purity 
of character and rare and .scholarly attainTueut.s. His name was Frank Kun. 
lie was a great preaclier and a great teacher. For a time he held the chair of 
Greek and Latin at Western College, but as his congregation increased he devoted 
all his time to his people. His congregation was entirely of the rural da.ss. He 
loved his people and in turn was loved by them. His congregation was one 
of the best Boliemian congregations in the I'nited States; his sermons were master- 
pieces of art and beauty, full of religious fervor, stately dignity and depth. His 
memory will forever be revered by the people of Linn coiuity. This church is 
still there; broadening its sphere of work it now has two branches, one in Johnson 
county, and one in Linn county, the la.st l)eing the old Baptist chin-ch in Putnam 
township. 

In Cedar R.apids the Bohemian people liave three protestant churches: the 
Fourth Presbyterian, the Bohemian Methodist, and the Reformed church; all 
three are [)rosperous. All of them have large and substantial memberships and 
all of them are fortunate in having strong, capable, and popular men as ministers. 
Under the wi.se and liberal policies of these leaders these churches are doing 
excellent work among the Bohemian people. 

There is a large, respectable element of the Bohemian population that does not 
belong to any church organization. They are not opposed to churches, nor to 
religion, but do not affiliate with any church organization. They believe that 
every one should be permitted to think and believe as he pleases in matters of 
faith. In the Bohemian lanugagc they are called "Svobodomy.slni." This word 
does not mean Free Thinkers. "This Bohemian word is made np of two words 
'Liberty' and 'Mind,' and it means the broadest toleration for the religious be- 
liefs and opinions of others; and further it means that you shoidd give the 
widest latitude to the religious beliefs and forms of worship of your neighbors. 
and that they should do the .same to you; and it further means that you should 
honor and respect the religious views and professions of your neighl)ors and they 
should do the same by you." 

No sketch of the Bohemian people in Cedar Rapids and Linn county woidd be 
pomplete without referring to the Sokols. This is a society whose purpose is 
physical culture. The society is well represented in Cedar Rapids, ami has among 
its members .some of the ln-st all around atbieti's in this country. In ]!)(•!• a team 
of six men of this organization capfuretl the first prize at the National Contest 



126 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

in New York city of the Bohemian Sokols Society in the United States. The 
society owns a fine building and gj-mnasium here. It is an old organization, 
dating back to about the time when tlie Reading Society was organized ; at that 
time being a branch fostered by the Reading Society. The society has several 
instructors of physical culture and gives to boys and girls, and young men and 
young women, a thorough course in gj-mnastics. 

The Bohemian people of this city are thoroughly and actively interested in 
the principle of modern fraternalism. Among this element the fraternal orders 
and societies find much favor and popularity. There are ver>' few men and 
women of this nationality who do not belong to at least one fraternal order, and 
there are many who belong to a half dozen frateraal orders. In fact the Bohem- 
ian element in the city of Cedar Rapids is honey-combed with lodges, orders, and 
societies of fraternal character. The Reading Society, already mentioned, was 
the nucleus, from which, as time went on, manifold ramifications sprang, finally 
developing into an extraordinary number of fraternal societies and lodges. 

At first these societies were more of a national spirit and character, but later 
the insurance feature became an important part. The Bohemian people have great 
faith in fraternal insurance. The next thing after a home is acquired, fraternal 
insurance is provided. Some of the societies are exclusively for men, and some 
are exclusively for women, but the tendency of the last ten years is to permit both 
sexes to become members of the same lodge. This too has its advantages, and if 
fraternal orders are to be more than mere insurance companies, a greater diversity 
of membership, greater benefits and advantages will flow from them. All the 
orders and lodges are in a prosperous condition. Three fine and capacious halls 
have been built and there is need and place for them all. 

The C. S. P. S. hall was built in 1891, the Z. C. B. J. hall was built in 1008, and 
the Sokol hall in 1908. There is a Bohemian hall in Ely, Iowa. The Z. C. B. J. 
is a large and flourishing fraternal order whose supreme lodge has been located 
in Cedar Rapids since its organization in 1897. This in English is called the 
Western Bohemian Fraternal Association, and it is doing business in ten or twelve 
states in the Union. 

In 1885 there was an Odd Fellows lodge instituted, whose members are all 
Bohemians, and whose rituals and work are in the Bohemian language. This 
lodge has the distinction of being the only Bohemian Odd Fellows lodge west of 
the Mississippi river. The spirit of fraternalism has had a remarkably good in- 
fluence upon the character and intelligence of the Bohemian people. The financial 
benefits to the widows and children flowing from these societies may be great, 
but the moral, intellectual, and educational benefits to the members are im- 
measurably greater. 

In the United States there are many Bohemian communities and settlements. 
In some of the eastern cities the settlements are very large, for instance in 
Chicago there are 100, (X)0 Bohemians; in New York about 40,000; in Cleveland 
about 40,000 ; and there are very large settlements throughout ]Minnesota, the two 
Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. 

In intelligence and educational advancement, in the broad scope and high 
ideals of modern fraternalism, in social progress and in business and industrial 
enterprise, and in the professions, the Bohemian people of Linn county and Cedar 
Rapids rank foremost among all the Bohemian communities in the United 
States. This is a recognized fact among other Bohemian communities and cities 
in our country. We are proud of the fad that our city has won the beautiful 
title of "Parlor City," but more proud should we be of the fact that in all the 
Bohemian communities and large centers of Bohemian population from New 
York to California, Cedar Rapids is icnown as "The Bohemian Athens of 
America. ' ' 



CHAPTER XVII 

The Early Marriage Record 

An interesting book in the otlice of the eounty elcrk at Marion is the first mar- 
riage reeord kept in the county. Through the eourtesy of County Clerk Williatn 
Dennis we are enal)le(l to give below a reeord of marriages tliat took plaee in the 
county from 1841 to 1855. The names and the dates have been transcribed with 
care, though it is possible some names here printed are not correct in everj' par- 
ticular, due to the inability to read the writing in the reeord. As a rule the pen- 
manship of our early clerks was distinct and readable. This is true in especial 
manner of the incumbency of Ilosea W. Gray, who was clerk during most of the 
years covered by this transcript. 

The book consulted in the preparation of this chapter contains both the li- 
censes granted and the returns of the marriages. In a few instances the names 
in the licenses are different from those given in the returns. 

A thing to be noted in this early marriage record is the youth of many of the 
parties. In many inst.iinees the records show the marriage of young girls of 15 
and 16 years. 

A number of licenses are recorded, but there is no evidence in the book that 
the marriages were ever celebrated, due doubtless to the failure of the officiating 
clergyman or justice to make the proper returns. 

JIany names familiar in the early days appear in this record. And it is 
valuable not only because it lists those pioneers who here set up their household 
gods soon after they arrived in the eounty. but also because it gives the names of 
the early ministers and justices of the peace in Linn county. 

In this reeord book are recorded the licenses of the ministers of the gospel who 
were authorized to perform the marriage ceremony. Here are some of the names, 
many of them doubtless familiar to the survivors of that time: 

Heverends John Hodges, Michael Summer. John Stocker, William C. Rankin. 
Israel C. Clark F. R. S. Uyrd. James L. Thompson. Warren B. Morey. Salmon 
Cowlea, Isaac Searles. Henry Reed, Christian Troup, John Hindman, Allen John- 
son, I'riah Ferre«\ James M. Fanning. Peter Robinson, J(X'l H. Taylor, Daniel 
Wortbington. Luther MeVay, S. H. (Jreenuf), Duff C. Harrows. Al)salom A. Sel- 
lers. Charles D. (Jray. John S. Hrown. John Walker. Edward R. Twining. Jacob 
Miller, Joshua li. Hardy. Janies S. Fullerton, Robert Miller. Stephen Porter, 
Solomon T. Vail, Abner Corbin. Richard Swearingen, George B. Bowman, David 
Waneri(>h, Nelson Rathl)ern. Almiron R. Gardner, John Hayden, J. X. Seeley. 
J. H. Harri.son. Danforth H. Nicholas. John W. lioal. Isaai- Whittimore. Bennet 
Rol)ert.s. E. D. Olmsted, Wesley R. Blake. Nelson A. .McConnel, El.ler Noah Will- 
son, Deacon Pliny B. Yates, William Sayler. John Williams. Solomon Kern, 
Charles N Morbeley. John Demoss. G<Mirge P. Smith. Lucas C. Woodford, Alex- 
ander Colwell, Samuel Farlow. Williston Jones. 

Here is the reeord of marriages covering the period noted : 

1841 

July 25, Joseph Crane to Agnes Bogard, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. 

August 20, James E. Bromwell to Catherine Gray, by Rev. J. M. Hummer. 

Oiti.li.-r IS J<ihn Hunter to Hannah Barbary Hines. by Calvin W. IMielps. J. P. 



128 HISTORY OF LIXX COUNTY 

October 30. John Mann to :\Iary [Mann, by C. W. Phelps. J. P. 
November 3. A. Safely to Margaret Hunter, by John Stewart. J. P. 
December 1, Julias Allen Peet to Ester Ann Crow, by Rev. Thomas P. Emerson. 
December 7, Aaron IMoriarty to Hannah Ross, by Thomas Goudy. J. P. 
Dee. 12. Samuel Ross to Mary Vaughn, by John Stoeker. 
, Charles Roe to Phebe Putnam, by C. W. Phelps. J. P. 

18-42 

January 16, James Cummings to Mary Ann Dorsey. bj' D. "W. King, J. P. 
January IS, Xathan Cochran to Eliza Ann Nichols, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. 
February I'J. James Leverich to Hannah Brody, by Aaron Usher, J. P. 
]\Iarch 8. William B. Hampton to Mary Ann Van Zant. by John Stewart. J. P. 
Api'il 3, Jacob Minton to Charlotte Lewis, by Aaron Usher, J. P. 
April 17, Alfred AVilliams to Elizabeth Oliphant, by James il. Denison. J. P. 
April 18, Franklin Kimble to Lidia Bristol, by C. W. Phelps. J. P. 
April 24, David Rickey to Mary Coon, by Rev. John Stacker. 
Jlay 22, Harvey Dwj-er to Elizabeth Bartlett, by C. W. Phelps. J. P. 
May 29, Robert C. Cregg to Mary E. Dowing, by Rev. Wm. C. Rankin. 
August 25. David Willson to Mercy Brody, by C. W. Phelps. J. P. 
September 22, Casper Nick to Christena Briney, by John Stewart, J. P. 
October 9, James Huntington to Aurilla Archer, by Thomas Croudy, J. P. 
November 21, John Henderson to Manilla N. Howard, by L. ]\[. Strong, J. P. 
December 1, William B. Harrison to Emma Osborn, by Thomas Lockhart, J. P. 
December 21, Andrew Jackson ]\IcKean to Abah Day. by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. 
December 27, Joseph Jaekman to Mary Ann Hall, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. 

1813 

January 1, Daniel ]\Iorland Peet to Sally Eliza Tryon, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. 
January 11, Wm. Stephen Trimble to ilartha Drunuin. by Joseph Hale, J. P. 
January 20, JIark Jostin to Elizabeth Hale, by Rev. Thos. P. Emmerson. 
February 8. Edward L. Hays to Mary Elizabeth Kramer, by Rev. John Stoeker. 
February 26, Joseph Jlounts to Maria Christian Shoe, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. 
March 2, Hugh Brody to Joanna Osliom, by James M. Denison. J. P. 
March 12. Chax-les Pinckney to Amanda Brown, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. 
March 21, Edwin Birdwell Spencer to ;\Iartlia Davis, by James ^I. Denison, J. P. 
April 17. Harry Oliver to Elizabeth Jane Bigger, by John Hunter. J. P. 
April 18, John' King to Martha Matilda Torrence, liy L. II. Strong, J. P. 
April 23, Philip Steinbaugh to Elizabeth Frileigh, by L. ]\I. Strong. J. P. 
April 27, James M. Denison to ]\Iary Jewel, liy Harisell Hittle, J. P. 
April 30. John Robbins to JIargarct Ann Fagg. by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. 
May 7, Gamaliel Walker to Sarah Catharine Winton. by Rev. Israel L. Clark. 
iMay 16. Nathaniel JIcBride to Christeen Kramer, by Rev. Wm. C. Rankin. 
June 1, Nelson Crow to Eliza Lane, by Isaac Butlar, J. P. 
June 26, Solomon Peckham to Harriet Brown, by James Gilliland, J. P. 
June 26, Edward R. Birney to Catharine Cummings. by John Wolf, J. P. 
July 9. Samuel Brazelton to Martha Freeman, by David W. King. J. P. 
July 16. Lyman D. Bardwell to Sarah Kinsinger, by David W. King. J. P.. 
August 22. Hugh Simmons to Hannah Simmons, by Rev. Wm. C. Rankin. 
September 5, Hiram Joslin to Sarah Jane Hale, by Thomas Goudy. J. P. 
September 14. Chambers Thompson to Raehael Barr, by L. JI. Strong. J. P. 
October 8. Thomas Hose to Eliza Jane Willis, by Rev. Isaac Searles. 
October 12. Thoma.s Lewis to Elizabeth Davis, by Hartsell Hittle. J. P. 
October 20. Alexander F. Camp to jMary Wilcox, by John Wolf. J. P. 




UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SCOTCH GROVE 




C. &. N. W. WOOD BURNING ENGINE. 1879 



TIIK KARI.Y MARHIAGP: RECORD iL'fi 

NoveinlH>r 16, St'th Baker to Prudciu-e Higley, hy Wancii K. .Morey. 
November IS), Thomas Gainer to Catliarine Lewis, l)y David W. Kintr. J. I'. 
Xovciul)er 21, John ('orey to Martraret. Sm.vth, h.v Rev. Salmon L'owles. 
Decemlier 7, Cahnn W. I'helps to .Mrs. Mar>- Stall, liy A. Simmons, J. 1'. 
Deeember 8. John Mel). Uromwell to Kebecea Milner. by L. M. Stronfj. J. I'. 
Deeemher l:{, Samuel \V. Durham to Kllen Wallcott, l)y'l.. .M. Stron<;. .1. 1". 
Deeember 2"). William Hrnz/leton to Ruth .Miiiton, by \j. Lewis. J. P. 
Deeember 2tj, Samuel \V. D. Cone to Mary Dodd. b.v L. M. Strontr, J. 1'. 

1844 

January 1. William Williams to .Mary Autri'line Xordykc. Uy L. M. Strung, J. P. 
January 2"). Oliver Vanderwork to .Maria S. Elliott. i)v Thomas (Jo\idy. J. P. 
February 7. .\'. \i. Urowii to Catharine ('rai;;o. by ]>. Lewis. J. P. 
February 22, Thomas S. Downinfj to Caroline A. Keys, by James L. Tli()m|).son. 
February 29, Horace Metcalf to Mary Jane lloUenbeek. by L. y\. Strong, J. P. 
^lareh 28. Bral Dorsey to Eliza Jane Railsbaek. by Da\'id W'. Kin;_'. J. 1'. 
April 7. James Ely to fjavina Reeks, by Horace N. Brown. J. P. 
April 17. William Heaton to Elizabeth Sutton. l)v Horraee X. Brown. J. P. 
April 18, Garrison Crow to Marv A. Simmons, by Freeman Smith. J. P. 
Ajiril 2:i. Hiram Deem to Helen Mar,v Barnett. by .lohn David. J. P. 
April 2ti. William Cress to Jane Cnmmin{r, b.v John David. J. P. 
Ai)ril 28, George A. Patterson to Eliza Jane Emmons, by John David, J. P. 
ilay li). George Cantonwine to Mary .Malinda I^ewis, by Isaac Searles. 
May 20. Timothy Stivers to Elizabeth Baugh. by Xelso'n Iliithbun. 'SI. M. ('. 
May 30. Alonzo Heaton to Rebecca Heaton, by John Davis. J, P. 
JulV 21. John F. Cnmbertin to Rilla Oliphant". bv John Hunter. J. P. 
July 2."). John L. Berry to Mary Williams, by David W. King. J. P. 
A\igust 7. Joseph E. Boyd to Eliwibcth Smith, b.v John David, J. P. 
August 8, JcKse|)h I'sher to L.vdia Mariah Williams, by John Hunter. J. P. 
August 27, William I. Corson to C.vnthia Vaughn, b.v Jesse X. Seele.y. 
Septendier 5. William A. Waller to Adaline A. Shipman. by John Ha.vden. G.JL 
Sept. 27, William Hamilton ti> Agnes Matilda Hunter, hv John H\Hiter, J. P. 
October 3. Charles Hinkley to Mary Helms, bv Perry Oliphant, J. P. 
October 10, Joseph Derbin to .Melissa Kirkpatrick. bv Daniel Rogers, J. P. 
Xovember 28, William Greene to Loui.sa M. lligley, by John M. Baals. 
December 8. John S. CuU.v to Xanc.v Jlounts. hy John Hayden. M. G. 

1845 

January 18. Joseph T. Berryhill to Jane Butler, by John Hunter, J. P. 
Januarv 1"). Alexander Thomp.son to Marion Davis, by Hartzell Hittle. J. P. 
February 2. Amariah Hagerman to Angeline Gray, by John David. J. P. 
P^ebniary IS. Joseph riichtel)erger to Mar>- E. Holeman. by John Ha.vden. M.(j. 
PVhruarj- ID. Joseph R. Strawn to Tabitlia Lewis, by D. B. Xiehols.P. G. 
Februarj- 27. Josei)h Williams to Marv M. Lucore. liy Rev. J. Hayden. 
F'eb. 27 Ferdinand Kcrshiicr to Elizabeth Rogers, by Rev. Isaac Whittoniorc. 
March 2, John Eieher to Hannah Co.x, b.v R<n-. Israel Clark. 
March (>. Orlando .X. Gray to Rosina I'ratt. by Rev. Isaac Whittemore. 
.March 16, Claiborn G. Worrall to Mrs. Ellen Connor, by John David, J. P. 
March 20. Chaune.v Leverieh to ^larilla I'sher, bv John Hunter, J. P. 
March 31. John S. Torn'uce to Cephina Wilson, by John David. J. P. 
April 10. Daniel Robbins to Pricilla Gray, by Rev. .I.ibn Hayden. 
April 17, Lister W. Hays to Anna Griffon, by Hartzdl Hittle. J. P. 
April 20. George W. I'tley to Maria Jane Sawyer, by Henry Weare, J. P. 



130 HISTORY OF LINX COUNTY 

May 4, George Cochran to Susan Gunn, by Elijah Evans, J. P. 
July 3, James M. Burge to Sarah A. E. .McRoberts, by Nelson Rathbun. M.M.C. 
July 16, Michael Zimmerman to Sarah Barclay, by Elias Rogers, J. P. 
July 20, David Mann to Mary Ann ^Vllitlatch, by Thomas Goudy, J. P. 
July 31, Robert M. Forsyth to Amanda McCartney, by E. Evans. J. P. 
July 31, William N. Downing to Armena Applebee. by E. Evans, J. P. 
August 21. James Bell to Dorcas Martin, by Rev, John Hayden, 
August 27, Henry Rea to I\Iartha L, Miller", by Rev. S. W. Ingham. 
September 4, Thomas JleClellaud to Ruth AmiBaugh. by Elijali D. Wain, J. P. 
September 7, Caleb S. Hendrix to .^lary Hemphill, by Hartzell Kittle. J. P. 
September 7, Robert Fairly to Sarah Thomas, by John Ilindman. J. P. 
September 9, Jauies A. Dyer to Elizabeth Minton, by Hartzell Kittle. J. P, 
October 8, W'illiam R. Lewis to IMary I. Cofman, by Rev. John Hayden. 
October 8, Wilbert L. Lewis to Emily Cofman, by Rev. John Hayden. 
November 6. Thomas Craig to Martha Smyth, by Solomon Cowles, D. D. M. 
November 6, Frederick Jordan to IMrs. Adaline Firkins, by Uriah Ferrie. 
December 9, Michael Kine to ilrs. Catharine Hack, by Uriah Ferrie. 
December 25, Joseph A. Secrest to Sarah Osbouru, by Hartzell Kittle, J. P. 
December 28, John B. Cutler to Martha Heaton. by John David, J. P. 

1846 

January 1, O, P. Weeks to Margaret Archer, by John Ilindman. 
January 1, Joseph iloulin to Sarah Goudy, by Ih-iah Ferrie. 
January 4, William M. Stockton to Ann P]liza Gilbreath, by E. D. Wain, J. P. 
January 25, Luke Taylor to Nancy Ann Dawson, by Rev. James JI. Fanning. 
February 2, John Ilindman to Emily Weeks, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. 
February 15, Thomas Jones to Jane Antrim, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. 
February 25. Benjamine Cobb to Sarah Holman, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. 
March 11, John C. Van Allman to Nancy Holler, by J. Kirkpatrick, J. P. 
March 12, William Hunt to Nancy JMaria IMeLaughliu. by E. D. Wain, J. P. 
April 2. Kezekiah Starbuck to Mrs. Villamina Rice, by E. D. Wain. J. P. 
April 4, Asa White to Amanda F. Davidson, by Peter Robinson. 
April 12. Silvester P. Lyon to America Campbell, by E. D. Wain, J. P. 
April 14, Harrison Usher to Lucy Bevens, by John Hunter, J. P. 
April 30. ]\Iilton Squires to Eliza J. iMounts, by A. E. Skinner. J. P. 
May 9, Hiram Usher to Lucinda Williams, by John Hunter. J. P. 
June 14, Elinyrrh Howard to Elizabeth Boyle, by Ezekiel Cox. J. P. 
June 20, Thomas Donahoo to Sintha ]M. ^McClelland, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. 
June 21, William J. Berry to Violet Wagoner, by II. W. Gray, J. P. 
June 27, William Potter to Jane Elizabeth Fowler, bv John Hnuter, J. P. 
July 26, John Evans to Mrs. Christiana Nick, by E. D. Wain. J. P. 
August 9, George W. IMetealf to Mary Howard, by Elijah Evans, J. P. 
September 3, Jacol) Harris to Betsy Staats, by John L. Shearer. J. P. 
September 3, Elijah Staats to Sarah Ann Cox, liy John L. Shearer, J. P. 
September 15, George White Gray to Zernah Williams, by II. W. Gray, J. P. 
October 25, Alexander F. Camp to i\Irs. Catharine Knapp. by E. D. Wain. J. P. 
November 5. W^alter L. Brockman to iMargaret Cummings, by E. D. Wain, J. P. 
November 8, Horace N. Brown to Sarah Jane Lewis, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. 
November 25, James Robb to Mary Patteson, by Rev. Burnett Rolierts. 
November 26, John Harris to Elizabeth Cox. by John L. Shearer, J. P. 
December 25, Joel White to Sarah A. Garretson, l\v William Chamberlin. J. P. 
December 26, Richard Miller to Elizabeth Sargent, by Wm. Chambers, J. P. 



THE EARLY MARRIAGE RECORD i;n 

1847 

.Ian. ;{, K|)hiaini T. Lewis to .Marfrarct 0. .McKinnpy. liy Kov. .Tool B. Taylor. 

January L'l, Sannu-l L. Wallace to Eli/aiicth Coffnian. by Hev. A. W. Johnsou 

January L'i). Isaac McCollVn to Rebeckah Heeler, bv Rev. Joel B. Taylor. 

February 14. Hiram Ileaton to Susannah N'ealy. by Rw. Joel B. Taylor. 

March 18. Stephen L. Tolloek to Marilla Lueore, by Rev. Jool B. Taylor 

March 24, Joel B. Taylor to Mary S. Fcrree. by Rev. Ilcnrv AV. Reed. 

March 25, Barney Riley to Kesiah Ramsey, bv John Iliuiter, J. 1'. 

Man-h 2;"), I'hillip Beamer to Harriet Ramsey," by John Hunter. J. P. 

April 1, William Gardner to Mrs. .Sarah tJritten. by Ilart/.ell ilittle. J. I'. 

Aj>ril 1. Laurence llollenbeck to D.'lila Lewis, by E.Evans, J. I'. 

April 4. William A. Skinner to .Mariette B. Heudricson, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. 

Aprd 5. John Rath to Wilhelmina Reinheiiuer. by John Hunter, J. P. 

April 15. Hugh Martin to Sarah E. Blakesly, by Rev. Joel B. Tayler. 

April 22, Norman W. Lsbell to Elizabeth Pinch", bv Rev. Joel B. "Tavlor 
May 2, William Davy to Charlotte Willis, by B. S. Knight, J. P. 
May 3, Robert P. Stuart to A.senith B. Soes"bee. by Rev. John Ilimman. 
May 26, John Zinnbra to Angcline Eggleston. by Rev. John B. Taylor. 
May 27, James B. Thomas to Elizabeth Xeighbour. bv Wm. Chamberlin, J. P 
June 2. Chandler Jordan to Sarah D. Waterhouse, by* L. S. Jordan. J. P. 
Jime 8. Levi H. .Ma.sou to Eunice Ann Smith, bv A. J. McKean. J. P. 
July 1. Warrington G. Conden to Margaret E. "Shaw. bv Rev. jt.el B. Taylor 
July 10, Abel E. Skinner to Man- Marshall, by Rev. J(")hn Walker. 
July 12, Jonathan R. Pcatt to Omina (Jray. by A. J. McKcan. J. P. 
July If). Aipiilla Cam])bell to Rachael Daniels," by E. I). Wain. J. P. 
July 27. Dyer I'sher to Rosannah Harris, by John L. Shearer. J. P. 
August 12. Andrew F. Brockmau to Pemetta A. Gott. bv Rev. Bennett Roberts. 
August 15. James Berrj- to Sarah Patti.son. by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. 
August 2G. John S. Dolerhide to Harriet Cooi)er. by Rev. Beniiett Roberts. 
August 17. William M. Stuart to Phebe Ross, by Rev. Bennett Roberts. 
August 29, Thomas Dill to Nancy Seargeant. bv' E. D. Wain. J. P. 
September l(i. John .Ma.son to Hannah B. R^iil.sback. bv John Cue. J. P. 
September 23. William G. Darr t<> Mary E. Arford. bv B. L. Night, J. P. 
October 4. Stejjhen Cook to Sarah Ann "ishain, by Andrew J. MeKean, J. P. 
October 7. Andrew Hollenbeck to Su.sannah Yates, by Rev. D. Worthington. 
October 7. Henry H. Baker to Lavina Crosberry. bv il. W. Gray J. P. 
October 9, Noah Wil.son to Mary House, by A. J. McKean. J. P." 
October 9, John Cress to I^ydia .Neighbour, by Thomas Lewis, J. P. 
October 14. Christopher Amo,se to Sarah Tee. by Hartzcll Hittle, J. P. 
October 18. David M. Richardson to Eliza J. Goudy. by Andrew J. .McKean.J.P. 
October 19. John Bomgardner to Lucy Mariah Davis" bv W. Chamlx-rlin, j. P. 
October 19. Oliver Clark. Jr.. to Barbary Ellen Brice. bv E. D. Wain. J. P. 
November 1. Jo.seph Bigger to Frances Runner, by A. D. BattorlT, J. P. 
NovemlHT l(i. Harmon Boyd to Is.sabella (Jrafton, by Rev. Bennett Roberts. 
November 19. John Shane to Hannah P. Goudy, byR.'v. D. Worthington. 
Noveml)er 18. James Scott to Hukla Newton, by E. D. Wain. J. P. 
December 21. Jacob B. Romine to Mrs. Jaurespa Harris, bv Rev. Jas Fanning. 
DecemlN>r 23, William L, Wain to PVanees Burge. by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 
December 30. Peter Moriarty to Sarah Osborn. by Rev. Jas. M. Faniiinu. 

1848 

Jauuarv- 1. Jos«^'[)has Stites to Sarah Burnett, by Ezekial Co.x. J. P. 
Jainiary 9. Henry Hunter to Roann Beekner. liy Hosea W. Grav. J. P. 



132 HISTORY OF LDsX COUNTY 

January 9, George A. Patterson to Hazeah Jones, by Rev. Bunnet Roberts. 
January 9, Joseph U.sher to Harriet "Williams, by John Hunter. J. P. 
January 19, Nelson Usher to Pheba Vinson, by John Hunter, J. P. 
February 4, Martin Bennett to Sabitha Conrad, by W. Chamberlin, J. P. 
February- 12, Benjamin Dewit to Hannah Ann Boid. by Rev. Bennet Roberts. 
February 20, Henrj- Tee to Raohel Stuart, by Rev. Duff C. Barrows. 
February 22, Asa White to Ann Eliza Stone, by Rev. D. Worthingrton. 
March 16, John Harmon to Su.sau A. Abbee. by Hosea W. Gray, J. P. 
March 18, Valentine Wrath to JMariah Jane Utley. by John Hunt.er, J. P. 
March 30, James L. Stevens to ]\[inerva Andrews, by Rev. D. Worthington. 
March 30, Daniel Carlan to Eliza Ann Shaw, by Rev. D. Worthington. 
March 31, Joseph Wain to Ann Kinly, by Rev. John Hindman. 
March 31, Alexander Paul to Aurilla Rood, by A. D. Battorrt", J. P. 
April 10, Henry Cress to Elizabeth Skinner, by Rev. Jno. Walker. 
May 4, Henry Hemphill to Emaline Wickum. by Rev. D. Worthington. 
May 6, Amos D. jMorse to Mrs. Bethany Campbell, by Salmon Cowles, V. D. 
May 11, Jeremiah Burge, Jr., to Sarah Ann xVreher, by A. J. IMcKean. J. P. 
May 16, George Smith to Sarah Torrenee. by Hosea ^I. Gray. J. P. 
May 18, Conrad G. Darr to Bethira Ellen Hill, by E. D. Wain. J. P. 
May 29, John Rundall to Sarah Ann Storm, by Rev. S. H. Greenup. 
June 1, Isa Helm to Margaret J. Campbell, by Rev. Duff C. Barrows. 
June 4. James Knuckles to Susannah Heaton, by Rev. S. II. Greenup. 
June 8, Samuel Yule to Sarepta E. Clark, by Lemuel D. Jordan, J. P. 
June 20, Geo. Washington Gray to Prudence M. Berry, by Rev. D. Worthington. 
June 25, John Burge to Harriet Harless. by A. J. ilcKean, J. P. 
July 8, Luther McShane to Hester Willyard. by A. D. Battorff, J. P. 
July 16. John Wood to Elizabeth Jane Jacpiett, by Ezekiel Cox, J. P. 
July 16, John G. McLoud to JMartha Jane Vardy. by Rev. Bennet Roberts. 
August 17, Carmi Marehall to Mary E. Hazelrigg, by Isaac Butler, J. P. 
August 20, Benjamine Hoover to Sarah Ann Bressler, bv Elder A. A. Sellers. 
August 31. David JlcCall to Eliza Jane Boxwell, bv E. D. Wahi, J. P. 
August 30, Abel Grove to Catharine Knoflock. by E. D. Wain. J. P. 
September 5, Thomas J. McKean to Sarah P. Gray, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. 
September 15, Wm. A. Thomas to Sarah A. Campbell, by Rev. Duff C. Barrows. 
September 28, James Nelson Howe to iMargaret Hemphill, by L. Jlyers, J. P. 
October 5, James Poyner to Sarah Scott, by A. D. Battorff. J. P. 
October 5, Godfrey Heine to Lucy Barter, by Rev. D. Worthington. 
October 9, Darius ^I. Ross to Eliza Jane Stewart, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. 
October 26, William S. Rolff to Anna M. Wolf, by Andrew J. :\IcKean, J. P. 
November 12, Henry Bressler to ]Mary Ann Seimiller, by A. J. ]\IcKean, J. P. 
Nov. 13, Edw. Crow to Mrs. Nai-cissa E. Bowman, by Rev. Lucas C. Woodford. 
Nov. 14, Lawrence Hollenbeck to Mrs. Prudence Millburn, by John Hunter. J.P. 
November 30, Turner Mclntire to Elizabeth Gray, by Rev. D. Worthington. 
November 30, John C. Goudy to Amelia Jordan, by Rev. Lucas C. Woodford. 
December 14, Robison Couwell to Caroline Butler, by Isaac Butler. J. P. 
December 21, Dennis Tryon to Huldah Clark, by Andrew J. ^IcKean, J. P. 
December 25, Alfred A. Holman to Lavinia J. Smith, by Rev. D. Worthington. 

1849 

January 4, John Stanley to Ann Maria Freeman, by Rev. D. Worthington. 
January 9, H. Austin to Mrs. Sarah Sutton, by L. D. Jordan. J. P. 
January 16, Henry D. Rogers to Lucinda K. ilcRoberts. by Rev. Alex Caldwell. 
Januarj' 18, Aaron Van Dorn to Elizabeth Boylan. by Rev. D. Worthington. 
January 18. John ^I. Robb to Perraelia V. Axtell. by Rev. Bennett Roberts. 




MAIN BUILDING, CORNELL COLLEGE 




SOUTH HALL. CORNELL COLLEGE 



THE KAHI.Y MAHKIA({p: HECORI) 133 

January 18, Orwubur^- Doss to Elizabt-tli Cook, by A. 1). HattorlV, J. ['. 

Jamian- 21. Abraham T. Darr to Mar>- .lane Hill, by E. D. Wain. J. P. 

Feb. l.Saimu'l 1>. McCally to Hartliflm .M<-('l.'llaiid. l)y K4-v. Alex ("akhveli. 

February 4. Abel K. Skinner to Airs. Mary A. Xalioii. by A. J. Ward, J. I'. 

February 11, Samuel 1). Thompson to Lui'etta Wil.son, l)y Rev. Hennet Holierts. 

February 12, I'reston Daniels to Mary Ann Keys, by Rev. Hennet Roberts, 

Februar>' 1"), Haniey Ilile.v to Elizabeth Nation, by Abraham J. Ward, J. P. 

February 17, Thoma-s M, Rose to Turzji Ann Knapp, by E. 1). Wain, J. P, 

Man-h \. Orson Lewis to Elizabeth Xieholls, by A. D. liattorfT, J, P, 

Mareh 1, William W. Ila.stinps to Elizjibeth A. Vaiikirk. by John Hunter, J. P. 

March 11, Simeon D. Loveless to Sarah Wtiser, by Rev. J. M. Westfall. 

March 27, Joseph ('. Tilton to Harriet C". Ejrpleston, by Rev. D. W%)rthington. 

March 2S, John Barkley to Elizal)eth J. Harkley, by Rev. Lucas C. Woodford. 

April 2, Lyman Wordan to Elizaljeth McGatlick, In- Rev. Williston Jones, 

April 8, William Clark to Sarah House, by Isaac Butler, J. P. 

April 5, Ebenezer Hull to Mehitable Jacques, by Thomas Lewis, J. P. 

April o, Francis M. Leabo to Harriet Hrvant, bv A. I), Bottorff, J. P. 

April >s. Win. W. Woods to Polly Whitlatch. by Ezekiel Cox, J. P, 

April 1(1, John Perkins to Christiana Forsyth, by Rev. D. Worthing^ton. 

April 19, Jeremiah Beall to Mrs, Elizabeth WHiitely, by A. D. Battorft", J. P. 

April 22. Jonathan Kees to Rebecca Wickham. by A. J. Ward. J, P. 

April 2!», Wm. M. C. Kirkpatrick to Elizabeth Irons, by A. J. MeKean. J. P, 

April 29, Nathan Chapman to Marsiaret House, by Isaac Butler, J. P, 

April 30, David Barrows to Susan Jane Rhodes, by Duff C, Barrows. 

Maj' 1, Joseph Current to Marjraret Hunter, by Lewis Meyers, J, P, 

May 6, Samuel F. Hook to Sarah Jane Kennedy, by Rev. W. Jones. 

May 6, Janus .Martindale to Ann Myei"s. by Isaac Butler. J. P. 

May 14, Wm. II. Ilarland to Sarah E. Li'tfinj^well, by Rev. D. Worthinglon. 

May 27, Richard Barber to Orphia Clark, by Rev. Samuel Farlow. 

May 27. John Craig to Frances Bur<re. by A. J. MeKean, J, P. 

June 10. Joseph Mentzcr to Maria Ilollenback. by A. D. Battorff. J. P. 

June 11. Ira P. Aldrieh to Martha Maria Levericb, by Geo. P. Smith. 

June 14. Edw. II. Oliphant to .Samanfha .V. Ankrom. by Rev. D. Wortliington. 

June 20. James C. Alexander to Susan Smyth, by Rev. A, M. Stewart. 

June 21, Thomas Baldwin to Jane Ann McClelland, bv Ilosea W^. Gray, clerk. 

July 1. Abel Groves to Abigail Miller, by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 

Julv 1. James Dill to Martha Harl)ert. bv A. D. BattortT. J. P. 

July 1. Joshua S. F. Briney to Rhoda >i. Wolfe, by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 

July 4. Luther Abl)e to Permelia EiLson. by Rev. D. Worthington. 

July 5. Chauneey Blodgett to Pliebe Doty, by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 

July 8, Calvin Newman to Mary Ann Howard, by Isaac Butler, J. P. 

July 12, Ben.janiine Wisner to Mary J. McKnight, by Salmon Cowles. V.D.M. 

July 28, Homer Bishop to Jllizabcth Smith, by Rev. D. W^orthington. 

August 7, James W. Fee to Tabitha Osbom. by Sam'l M. Briee. J. P. 

August 13, Buonaparte Stansberry to Nancy Jane Johns, by Lewis Myers, J. P. 

August 14. Joshua Morford to Elize Jane Gibson, by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 

August Ifi. Wm. P. Henderson to Lydia Cox. by Wiley Fitz. J. P. 

August 19. Samuel Heaton to Rebecca Ileaton. by Rov. Samuel Farlow. 

August 27. John Vardy to Mrs. Nani-.v A. Praigg. by Rev. Williston Jones. 

September fi. Richard Gray to Martha Jane Scott, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. 

September 7. Wm. Cahoon to Miranda Cook, by Frederick Kindley. J. P. 

October 4, Robert Holmes to FAhn Keys. l)v Rev. Bennet Roberts. 

Octolior 4, Dean Cheedle to Ruth Ives, l)y Rev. Brniiet Roberts. 

Octobers, Frederick Fisher to Joaniui Henrietta Ruhl. by Rev. Williston Jones, 

October 18. Otho S. Bowland to Adalina Fraze.'. by Rev. R. Swearengen. 



134 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

October 25, Samuel Bressler to Isabella Seimiller, by K€V. John S. Brown. 
November 1, Joseph B. Kyle to Sarah Samantha Goiidy, by A. J. McKean, J. P. 
November 2, Geo. Washington Roberts to Polly A. Cue, by Thomas Lewis, J. P. 
November 4, James C. Traer to JMarcia W. Ferguson, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. 
November 5, Edw. L. Pierce to Romelia Peet, by Frederick Kindley, J. P. 
November 15, Henry C. Oliphant to Martha Jane Moore, by Duff C. Barrows. 
November 18, Raphael Cheedle to Evaline R. Ankrom, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. 
November 22, Wm. Himter to Nancy McRoberts, by Rev. Charles D. Gray. 
November 29, Wm. I. Burge to Sarah Ann Burge, by Lewis Myers, J. P. 
December 6, George Ives to Hannah Jones, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. 
December 20, Samuel Miller to Hannah L. Howe, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. 
December 27, Geo. D. McLaughlin to Capa Morford, by A. J. JIcKean, J. P. 

1850 

January 3, Walter L. Brockman to Ellen Worrell, by A. J. McKean, J. P. 
January 24, James M. Oxley to Mary Jane Reneau, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. 
Januaiy 24, Solomon Moriarty to Jane Osborn, by A. D. Battorff, J, P. 
February 21, Wm. F. Howe to Barbara Miller, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. 
February 28, David N. Gla.ss to Polly Jolms, by Rev. R. Swearengen. 
March 7, Andrew Moffatt to Catharine Smith, by James S. Fullerton. 
March 12, Wm. V. Lagorgne to Elizabeth B. Austin, by Rev. S. T. Vail. 
IMarcli 16, Albert Russell to Climena J. Gray, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. 
March 17, Samuel Stony to Sarah T. Robinson, by Lewis Myers, J. P. 
March 30, Volney Carpenter to Susan M. LTsher, by John Hunter, J. P. 
April 9, jMorgan'S. Parks to Lydia Gentry, by A. D. Battorff', J. P. 
April 12, Asa L. Harrow to Sarah Ann Troup, by Rev. John S. Brown. 
April 12, Nathan M. Donahoo to Susan Shafer, by Rev. John S. Browii. 
April 15, Levi W. Johnson to Ann Maria Kirkpatrick, by Rev. R. Swearengen. 
April 25, John Harris to IMrs. Elizabeth Harris, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. 
]May 14, John Heilman to ]\Ii*s. I\Iary Ann Carman, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. 
iMay 28, John B. Ives to Hannah Jane Wallace, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. 
June 4, Joseph S. Carson to Phebe Vaughn, by James S. Fullerton. 
June 23, David Hunter to Luray Ann Reynolds, by A. D. Battorff', J. P. 
June 24, Harry G. Thomas to Alvira M. AJndrews, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. 
July 4, Christian Neidig to Nancy Huber, by Rev, Jacob IMiller. 
July 4, George Bayley to Sarah J. Goudy, by James S. Fullerton. 
July 6, Seymour D. Carpenter to Sarah L. Weare, by Rev. Williston Jones. 
August 15, Charles D, Gray to Candace Smith, by Rev. Robert ^liller. 
Augiist 22, Miron Bunce to Elizabeth :McAft'erty."by A. J. :\rcKean, J. P. 
August 22, David ilyers to Elizabeth Carbley, by John Emmons, J. P. 
August 26, Bartley Openchain to Nancy Morse, by J. M. Williams, J, P. 
August 27, Gilman Wells to Catharine Priest, by Wm. L. Winter, J. P. 
August 29. Henry Seimiller to Deborah A. Falkingburg. by Rev. D. Wenerich. 
August 29, Wm. Jordan to Margaret ^Montgomery, by Rev. J. Williams. 
Aug^ist 30, Nathaniel A. Alibott to Margaret J. G. Stewart, liy J. S. Fullerton. 
September 2, Joseph Robinson to Hannah Sanders, by Wm. L. Winter. J. P. 
September 5, Henry Cummins to ilary Ann Hamilton, by Rev. Williston Jones. 
September 7, Seneca Towiisend to Nancy Fussle, by Henry Wagner. J. P. 
September 19, James Jennings to Emily Gash, by Daniel Albaugh. J. P. 
September 21, Hiram Ross to Eliza M. Palmer, by Rev. J. Williams. 
September 27, Daniel Cory to Tillizabeth Jlorford, by James ]\IcClelland, J. P. 
October 12, Ira G. Wilson to Eve Montgomery, by Rev. J. Williams. 
October 17. Samuel Veaeh to Mariah Jane Parks, by Rev. Duff' C. Barrows. 
October 24, Wm. Stewart to Eliza Lucore, bj- Rev. Williston Jones. 



THE EARLY MARRIAGE RECORD 135 

OcU)bL'r 3(t, Will. M. SU'Wurt to .Mar>' C. Watkiiis, l)y Kcv. Htniu-t R()l)ert.s. 
November G, John Bozenbarefk to Liu'y S. -Martin, l)y Rev. Edw. .M. Twineiug. 
November 7, Harvey O. Iligley to Anna Hisbop, by Rev. Bennot Roberts. 
Novemlier 10. (i. \V. Hrcs-sler to Iludes.sa Tbmnpson, l)y Rev. <!. B. Bowman. 
November 17. Josepb Tlioma.s to Isabel Jobnson, by A. J. MeKean, J. P. 
November 21. Ben.jamine Lapbani to Ann E. Evims, by Wm. Cooper, J. P. 
November 8(1, .Michael (". Paul to Naney Wiekam, by Rev. Stephen Porter. 
December 10, Alfred Tlu)ma.s to Elizabeth Lewis, by J. .M. Williams, J. P. 
December 10, Alfred Thomas Ui Elizabeth Lewis, by J. W. Williams. J. P. 
December 14, Lsjiae Grimes to Eliza A. Cox, by Adam Berry. J. P. 
December 19. Wm. M. Torrenee to Jane L. Commons, by James S. Fullerton. 
December 2f). Richard Abbott to Phebe Roonalds, by Wm. Ij. Wenter, J. P. 
December 30, Edwin Rogers to Emily J. Williams, by N. C. Cage, J. P. 

1851 

January 1. David Brooks to Jane Morgan, by Daniel .Mbaugh. J. P. 
January H. William Anderson to Rachel Harvey, by J. M. Williams. J. P. 
January 12. Orsemas Lel)o to Catharine Daniels, by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 
January 14. Hiram Brooks to Martha Hendrickson, by Rev. J. Porter. 
January 14. George W. Gray to Harriet Stone, by Rev. W^illiston Jones. 
January 14. Willis S. Gott to Elinor Carr. by James B. Thomas, J. P. 
February 6, Walter Hilton to Sophia Frager, by N. C. Gagesby. J. P. 
February Iti. Orlin S. Harding to Margaret Morehouse, by Fred. Kindley. J. P. 
Fel)ruary IS. Wm. S. Reed to Jane E. Gagesby. by Rev. John Williams, Jr. 
March 7, Charles R<ibinson to Elizabeth T. Ruiu^ls. by Jas. B. Thomas. J. P. 
March 21. N. W. Mat.son to Sarah Romine. by Rev. N. D. MeConnell. 
March 24. Warren Payne to Catharine Freeland, l)y Rev. Ja.s. Keeler. 
^lanh 2"). Wm. H. Carpenter to Mrs. Susannah Wilscy, by John Cue, J. P. 
March 31. John Lash to Harriette Belt, by James McElhenna. J. P. 
April 3, Jolui .Nicholas to Anna Lewis, by Daniel Albaugh, J. P. 
April t>. Joel S. Austin to Elizabeth Meti-alf. by J. H. Walton, J. P. 
April !t. .Nathan .M. Day to Hannah Bearly. by"A. J. McKcan. J. P. 
.\pril Ifi. Charles H. Johnson to Lucy Clark, by John Cue, J. P. 
April 27. Gran J. Draper to Elizabeth Haddon. by C. N. Jfobcrly, S. B. P. 
May 4. John Daniels to Martha Rindley. by Frederick Rindley, J. P. 
May 4. Jonathan J. Nugent to Roxina E. Ford, by Rev. N. A. MeConnell. 
.May 6, Wm. H. Bristol to Mariett Jones, liy R<'v. Williston Jones. 
May 0. Simon Roll to Catharine Keller, by Rev. Sol. Kern. 
May 10. M. S. Oxley to .Nancy Poyiu-r. by John Emmons. J. P. 
May 11, Joseph Brison to Elizabeth Remington, by John R. Speake, J. P. 
May ir>, William Lutz to Dulybella Sedwii-k. by Rev. Zenas Covil. 
"May 25. James W^. Gaeby to Cynthia A. Hobart. by Rev. James S. Fullerton. 
June 1. Samuel Soesbe to Marj- A. Chapman, by A. J. McKean. J. P. 
June 23, T. J. Speak to Mary Chambers, by Wm. A. Thomas. J. P. 
June 24. John Boxwell to f^lizabeth Houston, by A. J. McKean, J. P. 
June 2S. Jacob Pugh to Harriet Dollerhide. by Win. Cooper, J. P. 
July 3, John Ellison to Rachel Curtis, by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 
July 3, James Curtis to Mary Johnson, by A. J. MeKean. J. P. 
July 8. George Henderson to Jannet Thoma.s. by Rev. John \. Vance. 
June 8. Jacob Holland to Harriet Ilollenbeck. by J. M. Williams. J. P. 
July 10. Jeremiah Campstock to M.iry B. Johnson, by R«'v. G. li. Bowman. 
July 10, John F. Rogers to Martha \V. lOlliott. by .viidrew Perry. J. P. 
July 13. Nathan C. Gillilan t.. .Mary I baton, by !>. D. Jonlan. J. P. 
Julv 24. Johnson (Jardner to F^slher .\. Tolman. bv W. .\. Thomas. J. P. 



136 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

August 14. Wui. Freeman to Nancy Jane Plant, by Rev. A. J. MeConnell. 
August 14. Daniel M. Funk to Barbary Blessing, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 
August 17, Samuel Justin to Mrs. Lydia Servenson, by Jas. B. Thomas, J. P. 
August 19, Jas. MeAfferty to Alma Jane Willeox, l)v Rev. Geo. B. Bowman. 
August 28, N. B. Batterson to Emma L. Akers. by James S. Fullerton. 
August 31, Jonathan B. Keys to Hariet A. Smith, by Wm. Cooper. J. P. 
September 1, Alpheus Mclntire to Cordelia M. Phelps, by Rev. Wm. Philips. 
September 2, Sylvester i\IcKean to ]\Iary Ann Kyle, by James S. Fullerton. 
September 10, Edwin White to Emily Edkins, by Rev. J. W. Williams. 
September 14, John ]Manley to Susanna Kirkpatrick. by Adam Perry, J. P. 
September 16, Daniel 0. P^iuch to Ellen ^I. Calder. l)y Rev. James Keller. 
September 16, Joseph Green to f]liza Denison Harvey, by Rev. James Keller. 
September 18, Irvin Wilcox to Eliza IVIcClelland, by A. J. McKean, J. P. 
September 18, George R. Peet t« Sarah A. Parsons, by Rev. J. Williams. 
September 24, James Bliss to Lutitia Osborn, by James S. Fullerton. 
October 2, Thos. Jacobson to Sarah M. Heatou, by Rev. E. W. Twining. 
October 2, Fielden Travis to Patsa Campbell, by John Emmons. J. P. 
October 12, Thomas Newel to Frances A. Allensworth, by Rev. D. C. Barrows. 
October 12, John W. McDaniel to Miranda Willsou. l>y John Emmons, J. P. 
October 15, Sam'l H. Minear to Lucy Davis, by John Emmons. J. P. 
October 17. John JlcCartney to Eliza J. Caldwell, by N. W. Isbelle, co. judge. 
October 30. John Brison to Elizabeth Speaks, by Rev. Edw. W. Twining. 
November 19, Parson Jones to Harriet Phelps, by Fredk. Rinley. J. P. 
December 14. Joseph S. West to Susannah Hawn. by J. E. Kurtz. J. P. 

1852 

January 1, Peter Betzer to Catherine Gibson, by Rev. S. W. Kern. 
January 4, Lsaac B. Reed to Mariah Vanderwork, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 
January 4, D. S. Brown to Amanda M. Hunt, by David Albaugh, J. P. 
January 20. Thomas Milborn to Levisa Gower. by Wiley Fitz, J. P. 
January 23, Alexander Renfaw to Amanda Andrews, by Rev. Solomon W. Kern 
February 12. Emerson E. Barter to Esther ^IcKnight. by Rev. J. S. Fullerton. 
February 15. Jesse Turner to Matilda Grandon. by Isaac Butler. J. P. 
February 18, Jonathan Hess to Nancy ]\Iann, by Isaac Butler. J. P. 
Februaiy 24. Hannibal B. Davis to Elizabeth Acres, by R^ev. J. S. Fullerton. 
Februaiy 27. Horatio P. Smith to Mary Severson, by J. ]M. Williams. J. P. 
March 16, J. C. AlcConnell to Sophronia Harrington, by Rev. E. W. Twining. 
March 23. Samuel Craig to iliranda Cheedle. by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 
March 25, John Hemphill to Elizabeth Thompson, by Rev. Elias Skinner. 
March 25. Oran Strewn to Eaiil A. Doolittle. bv Rev. Williston Jones. 
March 25. Wm. F. Travis to Mary P. Willson. by Rev. E. W. Twining. 
April 1. Hiram Beals to Catharine Stinger, by Rev. E. W. Twining. 
April 7. Eber L. Mansfield to Lucy A. Warriner, by Rev. John Williams. 
April 7. Milo Biuice to IMary Ann Carnahan. by A. J. ]\IcKean. J. P. 
April 15. Wm. Kellernan to Elizabeth Allensworth. by John R. Speak. J. P. 
April 18, Isaac Robinson to IMary J. Daugherty. by Daniel Albaugh. J. P. 
May 1. John Rundall to Lydia Gregg, by Rev. Orlin Harding. 
May 6, George W. Harvey to Sarah R. Wolfe, by A. J. McKean. J. P. 
May 11, Horatio Morse to IMiranda Smith, by John Palmer. J. P. 
May 11. Jacob Lanning to Sarah A. Yambret. by Rev. Elias Skinner. 
]\Ia.v 12, Thomas Allbones to Elizabeth Kirby. by N. C. Gagely. J. P. 
May 13, Abraham Ward to Nancy J. Laiuiing. by Rev. E. Skinner. 
May 13. Abraham Ward to Nanc.y Jane Lanning. by Rev. Elias Skinner. 
Mav 30, Luther H. Kevs to Frances Nelson, bv Rev. E. W. Twining. 




HENRY BRUCE HOUSE 
Springville, Built in 1855 





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FIRST SHRINGVILLE BAND 



THE EAHI.V MA1{HIAGE RECOIU) ]::7 

May 31, Alexander MeKiiiiidii to Martha Mathews, by James B. Forsythe. 
June 2, James McFarland to Hannah J. H. Walton, l)y Rev. O. S. Ilardinnr. 
June 10, Alex Ulover to Susanna Frajrer. Ity l{ev. X. A. MeConnell. 
June 10, Joseph Myers to iSarah Diekall, Ity Rev. E. W. Twining. 
June 22, Alhert Sytezman to Julia Ann Walker, by W. A. Thomas, J. 1'. 
June 24. Morris XeiKlihor to Laura Ann llollenheck. by Win. A. Thomas, J. 1'. 
July 4, Clark Draper to Harbary Hesbert;er. by Hev. Elia.s Skinner. 
July (i. John Cariics t« Dorcas Robinson, by John I'almcr. J. P. 
July 1,'). Hichanl .M. Jones to Mary Iv Tyler, by John Palmer, J. P. 
July 2.'). John Winter to Christina Martin, by Kev. John II. Yanibert. 
An!<ust 14, Cordon B. Parish to Laura S. Ilufrhes. by Rev. E. W. Twining. 
August li), Albert Taylor to Martha Hampton, by Kev. X. Rathbum. 
August 31, Samuel Wort ban to Polly Frager. by Rev. X. A. MeConnell. 
September 1, Iliram Jenkins to Elizabeth Sawyer, by Rev. E. W. Twining. 
Sejitember 2. Cephas Dood to Catharine Swan, by Rev. J. S. Fullerton. 
September a, Win. MeLelland to Sally Ann Shanklin. by Rev. (). S. Harding. 
September it, Davit! Eekley to Man' Xihart, by X. C. Gageby, J. P. 
September 1'), M. H. E. Higley to H. E. Emery, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. 
September 2<), Frederick Enders to Raehel }>l. Carnes, by X. C. Gageby, J. P. 
September 30. Absalom Lanning to Xancy Hemphill, by X. C. Gageby, J. P. 
October 14. Thomas Hill to Mary L. Connay. by Rev. (J. B. Bowman. 
October 18. Win. Prosser to Cirena BickerstalV. liy Rev. O. S. Harding. 
October 21. William Oxly to Henrietta Bcnham. by Rev. N. A. MeConnell. 
October 2(5, Samuel Cole to Mary Shaffer, by Daniel Runkle. 
November 14. James Johnson to Silvie Bliss, by Rev. Johji C. Ward. 
November 16. John Walser to Hannah Metealf. by X. C. Gageby. J. P. 
November 21. Xelson Van Xott to Susanna McAfTerty. by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 
November 28. Win. J. Lewis to Joanna Blackburn, by Thomas Lewis. J. P. 
November 'AO. Joel Courtney to Mary Ann Keynon. by John Eminons, J. P. 
December 7. Washington R. Given to Emalini' Chester, l)y Rev. (J. B. Bowman. 
De<'einber 23, John Chambers to Emelinc Reynolds, by W. A. Thomas, J. P. 
December 26. Jacob Shanklin to Sarah Bollinghou.se. by Rev. Oriin S. Harding. 

18:13 

January 27. Jonathan Pipes to Mary Laughrey. by X. 0. Gageby. J. P. 
Febrnary 3. Edward Pugh to Foster Mann, by N. W. Isbell. county judge. 
February Id, John Biisenbark to Agnes Martin, by Kev. G. X. Janni.son. 
February 14, Amos Xicholas to Ruth Ransen. by Thomas Taylor, J. P. 
February 20. Simon S. Wickhain to Hannah Conner, by Rev. E. D. Olmsted. 
February 24. John Mc.\rtbur to .Julia A. Straley. by Rev. Williston Jones. 
February 27. Win. II. Warren to Rosina Xed. by H. F. Williams. J. P. 
March !(. liy.sandcr Jones to Mary Straley. by Rev. Williston Joni's. 
Man-h 12. Jos. X. Kirby to Mary Ann Remington, by Alfred Wright. 
March 13. Waller C. Brooks to .Slartha Brooks, by Benj. Harris. J. P. 
March 24, Joseph Carnahan to Su.'ian A. McLaughlin, by A. J. McKean. J. P. 
March 27. Daniel Smith to .\nna .M. Bruiier. by R<'v. David Winrich. 
March 27. Janus Ship to Ki'becca Barkly. by Kev. James B. Burch. 
Man-h 31. David Giger to Margaret J. Montgomery, by John C. Ward. 
.March 31. F..ewis House to Elizabeth Ciymour. by Rev. Williston Jones. 
.March 31. Daniel .\. Xewman to Lncinda Ennis. by Daniel -Mbaugli. J. P 
April 1!), James Holman to Phelie Blodgett. by G. H. Jenni.son. 
April 21. John W. Gray to Emeline Oxley. by Rev. G. H. Jennison. 
April 27, John Barr to Syntha Ann White to Rev. John C. Ward. 
May 5, David Blakdv to .Fulia A. ("arroll. bv Rev. Williston Jones. 



138 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

May 5, Mathias Kirshner to Irene Arrasmith, by Philip Smith. J. P. 
May 8, Henry Eaton to Sophia HoUister, by Davnd "W. Ring, J. P. 
May 12, Moses Albaugh to Sarah Wilyard, by Daniel Albaugh. J. P. 
May 15, Christopher Foremaster to Caroline Rhinehamer, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. 
May 15. John W. Courtney to Margaret Runan. by Rev. James B. Burch. 
May 22, Henry Busenbarreck to Judith Scott, by Rev. G. H. Jenuison. 
May 25, Nathaniel Harris to JIatilda AUis, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 
May 26, Wm. B. Torrance to Nancy Rozel, by Rev. Hiram J. Burley. 
May 26, Fra A. Steadman to Eliza J. Foster, by Philip Smith, J. P. 
May 30, Joseph Parker to Rachel More, by Wm. L. Winter, J. P. 
June 9, Gabriel Carpenter to Mariah Clifton, by Hev. Charles A. Gray. 
June 12, John Carbie to Sarah G. Hampton, by Jo.s. Leonard. J. P. 
June 19, Wm. Lineback to Jlargaret A. Hut«hi.son. by Rev. D. Ruukle. 
Jime 23, Ezra P. ^Morehouse to Rachel Jordan, by Rev. J. H. Jennison. 
June 23, Joseph Bro\\-n to Susan C. Snow, by Benj. Harris, J. P. 
June 25, James W. Freeman to Jerusha Jones, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. 
June 29, Joal A. Doty to Mary E. Rollfe, by A. J. ]\IcKean, J. P. 
June 29, Oradon Lebo to Amanda Newton, b,v A. J. McKeau, J. P. 
June 30. John Millse to Lucy A. E. Coleman, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. 
August 17, George Clark to Syrena Ta.vlor, by Wm. Phelps, M. G. 
August 25, Frederick G. Mason to JMary McAferty, by A. J. McKean, J. P. 
September 4, Lanty Johnson to Narcissa Davis, by Rev. N. A. MeConnell. 
September 13, Hiram Deem to Sarah Jane Vandorn, by Rev. Williston Jones. 
September 13, Jos. ]\rorford to Barbaiy A. Welshimer. by Rev. J. R. IMarshon. 
September 26, Lorenz P. Warren to Elizabeth Hamilton, by N. C. Gagely, J. P. 
September 29, Richard Wood to Eflty Putnam, by Isaiah Booth, J. P. 
October 2, David Bedell to ^Minerva Holler, b.y Isaiah Booth, J. P. 
October 4, Jackson Quick to Nanc,v Ann Shanklin, b,v Rev. James S. Fullertou. 
October 20, John C. Summers to ]\Iary Smith, by Ben.iamin Harris. J. P. 
November 1, Havir B. Sawj-er to Permelia Andrews, b,v Rev. Rufus Rieker. 
November 4, Orrin H. Smith to Eliza Pisel, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 
November 13. Robt. T. Holman to Mary E. Kepler, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 
December 6, John ilinehart to Rachel Slife, by Wm. Wagner, J. P. 
December 8, Simon Tuttle to I\Iargaret Elliott, by R«v. G. B. Bowman. 
December 22. John Miller to Emily Callahan, by Rev. N. A. MeConnell. 
December 28, Miron N. Nickerson to Sophia L. Snow, by Rev. John C. Ward. 
December 29, Isaac D. Worrall to Nancy A. Thompson, by Rev. G. H. Jennison. 

1854 

January 1, John C. Macke,y to Sarah Grubis. by Wm. A. Thomas, J. P. 
January 4. Luther Stinson to Elinor Coleman, by N. C. Gageby. J. P. 
January 17, Wm. Neely to H. Louisa Roberts, by Rev. Jas. R. ]Marshon. 
January 19, Madison Fee to Phebe M. Wright, by J. K. Speake. J. P. 
January 19, George Booze to Elizabeth Straley. by Rev. Rufus Rieker. 
January 31, Thomas Flathers to Jleralda ^McIMillan. by Joseph Leonard, J. P. 
February 1. Philip Hoglan to MarA' J. Cress, b.v John Carr, J. P. 
February 4, Henry Philips to Mary J. Harless. by Rev. J. K. Yomig. 
February' 5, Geo. W. Harron to IMargaret E. Schoonover. bv Wm. Wagner. J. P. 
February 7, Abraham McAfee to Elizabeth J. Glison, by Rev. John T. Tate. 
February 26. Massom Metcalf to Augusta Egleston. by N. C. Gageby, J. P. 
March 2, Joseph W. Baker to ]Marv Jane Davy, by Rev. Josiah Jackson. 
March 2, Jesse Tryon to :Mary L. Cron. by John Carr. J. P. 
March 9, Jacob Grey to Catherine Leabo. by Rev. E. Skinner. 
March 9, Martin Floyd to Elizabeth Hoover, by Rev. Jacob Newman. 



THE EAKLV MAKKIAGK KE(\)K1) i;5}» 

Murch y, Chesley L. Broekiiian to Kizpali Lueore, by Rev. Kiifus Ricker. 

March 12, Truinau J. Peet to .Mary Ann Connis, by Rev. J. F. Tiry. 

March 13, David Morgan to Charlott West, by Benj. Harris. .1. P. 

March 16, Edwin Clark to Charlotte Thomas, by Rev. CJ. B. Bowman. 

Mairh Hi. Ileiiiy B. Ilollenbe.k to Emily ('. Smith, by Rev. II. J. Busby. 

March \'.K .Martin Perrigo to Arvilla (Jriflin. by Benj. Harris. 

March L'L', Wm. P. Hazlett to Margaret W. Kyk>, l)y Rev. James S. FuUerton. 

Mareli 22. George C. MeCorckle to Ardelia Yates, by licv. H. I. Barley. 

March L'ti. Milton Monroe to Elizabeth Terrill, by R<>v. Riifus Rieker. 

March 2'.). C'has. E. Pollard to Fanny M. Hakes, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. 

April 2. Simeon Burge to Elizalicth Areher. by Rev. S. K. Young. 

April V.i, Alexander N'oble to Rebecca MeP''arland, !>y Ri'V. (). S. Harding. 

April It). Julius GrifKng to Mary 1). Ellis, by Wm. P. Gardner, J. P. 

Ai)ril l(i. Alfred Davis to Maria Palmer, by Rev. \. A. MeConnell. 

April lf», John (.;. Tenuant to Esther Hill, by Ben.j. Harris, J. P. 

April 23, Volnej- Leverieh to F^li/.abeth Grithn, by Wm. J. Gardner. J. P. 

April 2r>. Robert Berry to Nancy Thorington. by Rev. E. Skinner. 

May 3. Richard Aucutt to Louie Homer, by Rev. Elias Skinner. 

May 4. Addison Stewart to Cyrena Axtell, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. 

May 4. Walker Terrill to Jane T. Crue. by X. W. Isbell. by County Judge. 

.N[ay 12. Jacob MeShane to Mary Milyard, by Rev. (!. B. Bowman. 

May 14. Spencer C. Coleman to Belinda Kairns, liy James Coleman. J. P. 

May 18, David Berry to Phebe McVay, by John Ciie, J. P. 

May 2o. Charles Cooper to Mary White, by Rev. Rufus Rieker. 

May 30. John Plummer to Mary Harshenberger, by James W. McKnight. J. P. 

Jlay 30, Samuel Berry to Loni.sa Biggs, by Rev. Williston Jones. 

June 1. Absalom Sims to Marj- L. Wadsworth. by Rev. E. Skinner. 

June 2. Daniel -Ahers to Matilda Burly, by A. J.'McKean, J. P. 

June 8, Wm. D. Letzenberg to Lydia Crawford, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. 

June 8, Charles S. Kabler to Saloma Crawford, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. 

June 10, Taylor H. Tedford to Colesta JLorris. by Ben.i. Harris. J. P. 

June 11, Henr>- Sutser to Emily Kelly, by T. J. Speake. J. P. 

June 28, Hugh Torrance to Rhoda Dyke. In- Rev. (!. B. Bowman. 

June 28. A. B. Ma.son to Mary Cone, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. 

JiHie 2!t. John T. Hollenbeck to .Mar>"Hepker, by John Cu.-, J. P. 

July 2, Henry Chamberling to Fanny Stine, by A. J. McKean. J. P. 

July 2, James H. Swain to Priscilla Walker, by John Plummer. J. P. 

July 4, Joseph S. Butler to Mariah Rcnau. by A. P. Risley, J. P. 

July !•. Frederick Ilelbig to Anna Ililman. by Daniel Albaugh. J. P. 

July 13. Daniel Bigler to Catharine .Mikesell, by John Weare. J. P. 

July 111. Joseph B. Limback to Lucy A. Donahoo. by A. J. McKean. J. P. 

July 27, John M. Bailey to Emily Stoddard, by Rev." J. V. Dewitt. 

July 28. William Loekhart to Catharine .Miller, by Thos. (}. Lockhart, J. P. 

August 2. George W. Osbom to Marj- E. Rucker. by Rev. S. W. Kern. 

August 3. Ben.jamin Hampton to Caroline Shipman. by Rev. Elias Skinner. 

August (). James S. Carpenter to Marv E. Klumph. bv Rev. Williston Jones. 

August 12, E. D. Hazeltine to Mary Mitchell, by Thomas G. Lo<-khart. J. P. 

August 17. Enoi'h White to Adaline A. Waller, by Jas. M. Berry, Co. Judge. 

August 24. Francis Smart to Louisa Williams. l>y J. W. McKnight. J, P. 

August 2!). Fredi'rick to Joanna Bryan, by R<'v. Jas. .S. Fullerton. 

August 31. Christian Martin to Mary Barrer. by Ja.s. McKnight. J. P. 

Sepfeml)er 7. I'riah Rumbaugh to Mar>' Ann Sutton, by Rev. John P. Fay. 

September 12, John Thomp.son to Marj- Rogers, by Rev. E. Skinner. 

September 17. John Ringer to Barbary Hershey. by Rev. S. K. Yoinig. 

September 17, Wm. B. Penu to Elizal^-th S. Pearson, by Rev. Orlin S. Harding. 



140 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

September 28, George Howard to Lovinia I. Grigg, by Joseph Leonard, J. P. 
September 28, James Pennington to Elizabeth Pence, by Rev. A. Manson. 
September 30, Isaac Kinley to Mary A. Houghton, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. 
October 5, Ira Neal to Mary Fink, by Francis McShane, J. P. 
October 8, John T. Stewart to Charlotte L. Barter, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. 
October 8, Wm. Reynolds to Lucretia Vannote, by Rev. Asher Cattrell. 
October 10, Lowell Daniels to Harriet S. Weare, by Rev. A. Manson. 
October 12, James W. McAfee to Rachel Beerley, by Rev. A. iManson. 
October 12, Richard Scott to Priscilla Cox, by Rev. John P. Fay. 
October 13, Thos. W. Stephens to Sarah E. Fenlaw, by Rev. John Hindman. 
October 17, James Vauness to Nancy A. Whipple, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. 
October 22, John N. Smith to Charlotte Smith, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. 
October 23, Cyrus Ross to Jlary A. Stoddard, by Rev. A. Mansou. 
October 24, Charles Cameron to JMary Pardee, by James M. Berry. Co. Judge. 
November 2, Morgan L. Parsons to Sarah Beckner, by Rev. A. I\Ianson. 
November 2, John Pugh to Charlotte Thurston, by Daniel Albaugh, J. P. 
November 2, Samuel ]\[. W. Hindman to Jane iSIcAlester, l)y J. Slianklin, J. P. 
November 5, John B. Leigh to Elizabeth A. Leigh, by Rev. Alfred Peek. 
November 7, Killion Liehteberger to Martha Gidons. l)y Rev. Williston Jones. 
November 8, Elson Ford to Marj' McQueen, by Jolin B. ilcQueen, J. P. 
Noveml)er 9, Harvey Cook to Sarah Carnaga. bj' Rev. J. V. Dewitt. 
November 9, Samuel H. McClure to Ellen Fay, by A. J. Ward, J. P. 
November 9, Charles Cary to Christina Whitmire, by John Weare, J. P. 
November 12, Charles Hahn to Almira Wolfe, by Rev. Asher Cattrell. 
November 19, Manley Morgan to Sarah Barber, ])y Wm. P. Gordon, J. P. 
November 20, John Holman to Rebecca Tarlow. by Rev. E. Skinner. 
November 21. Geo. K. ]\rifford to Eunice A. Austin, by J. 'SI. Berry, co. judge. 
November 22. Peter Fritz to Barbai'v Kale, bv James Coleman, J. P. 
November 23. Elijah W. Gregg to Polly A. Barkley. by A. P. Risley, J. P. 
November 23. Thomas W. AVells to Martha I. Combs, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. 
November 28, John Morrison to Ellen Tedford. by Benj. Harris, J. P. 
November 29, Orrin E. Thomas to Irene Nuckolls, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. 
December 7, Edw. Bedell to Mary Hampton, by Joseph Leonard, J. P. 
December 7, Robert Rogei-s to Mary Jane Thompson, by Rev. E. Skinner. 
December 12, Wra. H. Coombs to Harriet A. Brown, by J. ^I. Berry, co. judge. 
December 19, Sidney Williams to Celia Oxley, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. 
December 25, Daniel Cavin to ]\Iary H. Ellsworth, by Rev. Samuel Goodalo. 
December 28, Geo. W. Garretson to Almira Corporan. by W. P. Gardner. J. P. 
Dec. 31, .Wm. H. H. Flemming to Ann E. Eliza Ea.stman, by Thos. Taylor, J. P. 
Jesse Beecliley to Harriet Craig, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. 

1855 

January 3, John O. White to Marj' A. Metkeff, by Levi H. Mason. J. P. 
January 3, Enoch Irish to Rhoda J. Dodd, by Rev. J. S. Fullertou. 
January 4. David Starabaugh to Sophia Boyce. by Thomas G. Lockhart, J. P. 
Jan. 9, Ladurnia Larrabee to Amanda S. Renfrew, by Rev. Williston Jones. 
Januaiy 24. Greenberry Daniels to Susan Doty, by Rev. Elias .Skinner. 
January 25. Jonatlian Simpson to Isabella McCaughey. by Rev. Daniel Runkle. 
January 27, Wm. Croghan to Cornelia Ellis, by Wm. P. Gardner, J. P. 
January 28. Thomas Skales to Lucy Serton. by Rev. Rufus Ricker. 
Januan- 31. Henry Ogan to Charlotte Cress, by Thoma.s Taylor. J. P. 
February 19. Jas. Richardson to Elmira Blanchard, by J. il. Berry, co. judge. 
March 1, Wm. Wilson to Jane Thompson, by Rev. Daniel Runkle. 
Jlarch 9, Jaeol) Cress to Lucv Ann Porter, bv Thomas Tavlor, J. P. 




THE "OLD SEM", CORNELL COLLEGE 



i 





III' 

1 1 M r 1 J ' ■ ^r. .. 

i i iilllill 




BOWMAN HALL. CORNELL COLLEGE 



TIIH EARLY MAKHIAGE RECORD Ul 

Win. Winsor to Rachel Leatheriuan, l)y Jolin Phiiumer. J. I' 
GeorRe Justin to Sarah Chandler, by John Plmnmer, J. P. 
A. I. Allen to Ann Eliza Kaul'inan. by Eev. J. T. Tate. 
James Bitrgs to Margaret Mitehell. by Ri-v. Rufus Hieki-r. 
Byron Riee to Hannah C. Colder, by Rev. C. C. Townsend. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

Historic Roads and Other Monuments 

In the early days it was essential to establish means of communication between 
points. "Where there were no navigable rivers the legislatures, and even congress, 
passed certain acts establishing roads. The Territorial legislature which met in 
Burlington in 1838 and 1839 among many other road laws approved the following 
passed January 25, 1839 : 

"That Isaac [Israel] Mitchell, of Linn count}', Iowa, John G. Fay, of Cedar 
county, and Jonathan Pettibone. of Muscatine county, be and are hereby ap- 
pointed commissioners to lay out a road commencing at Bloomington, IMuseatine 
coimty, thence to Rochester and Cedar county and thence to the county seat of 
Linn county. That said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at 
Burlington on the first ^Monday of May next to discharge their duties." — Section 
3, p. 461, Laws of Iowa. 

"It is further enacted that Alfred Carter, Warren Stiles and A. F. Russell, of 
Scott county, be and are hereby appointed commissioners to lay out a territorial 
road commencing at Davenport. Scott eountj', thence to Hickory Grove, thence 
to Poston's Grove, thence to Red Oak Grove, thence to Pioneer Grove, thence to 
Big Linn Grove, thence to the seat of .ju-stice of Linn county, said commissioners 
to meet, or a majority of them, to discharge their duties at Davenport on the first 
Monday of May next." — ^ Section 8, p. 462, Laws of Iowa. 

A number of these laws were passed laying out what were knowii as ' ' territorial 
and state roads." For example, there was the well known Dubuque-Iowa City 
road passing through Anamosa, Springville, and Mount Vernon. Then there 
were the two well known roads passing through IMarion, one known as the Toledo 
road running nearly directly we.st of Cedar Rapids to Toledo, and a road much 
travelled in the early day ; the other road branched from the Toledo road about 
four miles west of the city and was an angling road known in this countj' as the 
Marengo road, the State road, as well as the Des Moines road, which also was laid 
out over high ground in nearly a straight angling line to ]\Iarengo, and then west 
through Brooklyn, Grinnell, and Newton to Des Moines. This road was used 
much by the forty-niners crossing the state for the gold fields of California, and 
now and then some farmer has picked out of his field where the old road has been 
changed little horse shoes, shoes used for oxen, hammers and hatchets, and other 
utensils which had been left or lost by the early gold seekers. 

There were two roads between Cedar Rapids and Marion well known in the 
earl.y days, one called the old Marion road and the other running about where the 
street railway now runs. 

Another road which was much used in the early days was known as the Cedar 
Rapids and Center Point road. It was much travelled by all people from the 
north part of the count}'. 

Another road was the Marion-j\It. Vernon road, as well as the Western road, 
and the IMt. Vernon-Ivanhoe Bridge road leading to Iowa City. 

The Code of 1851, referring to the State roads, directs that these roads shall 
be maintained by the respective coimties but that such State roads shall not be 
discontinued or diminished in size.- — Sections 557, 558, Code of Iowa, 1851, 

At this time roads were under the supervision of the county court. Later 
they came under the supervision of the county supervisors. 



HISTORIC ROADS AND OTHER MONUMENTS 143 

Fur iiiiiiiy years it was l)eliovecl that a certain hill overgrown hy trees near the 
Milwauki-e tracks in the edge of Kenwood had heen a fortification erected by the 
I'liited States government in the early days for defending the settlers from 
Inilian attacks. 

A sclnMil house was later ere<'ted on or near this Icx-ality and was known as 
"Ft. George School House." Many of the old settlers reiuenibcrcd this locality 
and called it tlie old fort. An investigation was made and the following letter 
written by Samuel W. Durham explains it.self : 

"The hou.se was built l)y a man by the name of George, of German descent, 
and afterwards bought and occupieil l)y Ambrose Ilarland who gave the little 
irregular trai't a!i(l house the name of Ft. (Jeorge in honor of its tii-st o\^^ler and 
its having the appearance of being constructed to resist, not Indians, but cold 
winds as they swept up Indian creek. Harland was a character, bom in Ken- 
tucky, removed to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and was the sheriff of that county. 
This was the home of Lew Wallace, the author of Hen Ilur, and also the home of 
Ileniy S. Lane who first named Abraham Lincoln as jiresident in a convention 
in Chicago in lS(ifl. Ilarland moved to Linn county succeeding Ilo.sea W. Gray 
as sheriff, and was succeeded by me in that office. He was a six-footer and large 
and would fight, but once fell heavily before I'eriy Oxley 's huge fist." 

The person who erected the house which appeared like a fort was no other than 
George Ilesing. who owned the land and was a peculiar charactt-r in his day. He 
did plant cottonwood trees around the hou.se and also scraped u]) dirt so as to keep 
out the winti and snows as much as po.ssible from his yard. In a few years the 
trees grow up and the rubbish accunuilatcd, and they gave the jilace the appear- 
ance and uuuie it look like an old abandoned fortification. It is said that a certain 
Mr. Willard having charge of the erection of a school hou.se near this location 
named it the '"Ft. George School House." which name it bore as long as it stood 
there. 

A numl)er of plats have been filed in the recorder's office at Marion, and the.se 
have again lieen transcriptcd for public us«\ but before towns could be platted 
a number of towns were staked out before the land was laid out and surveyed by 
the government ; of these plats we have no record. The first plat was, no doubt. 
that of West[)ort. located on the banks of the Cedar river and near Bertram. 
This was staked out by Israel Mitchell July 4, 1838. Ivanhoe was laid out some 
distiinci' below at the present Ivanhoe bridge in the same year. Another town was 
staked out by J. Wilbert Stone along the Cedar river at the lower rapids 
within the corporate limits of the present Cedar Hajjids. There is no 
nroni of any plat of this town. In 1S44 Westport was again platti'd as Newark 
by James M. Doty. This is tlie first recorded plat and seems to have been filed 
Xovem))er 21, 1844, liy John Zinbar, recorder. (See Vol. A, p. 301. Lands.) 
This is now a com field and has long since heen vacated. 

New Linden was another town platted in the early days; this plat was filed by 
I'. S. Embree. surveyor. Ajiril 1.). 18o3. being property owned by A. K. Simpson 
and A. I*. Kisley and Iwated on sections 27 and 28, township 84. range o. Hrown 
township. This. also, now is nothing but a corn field. 

Another was the plat of .New HufTalo in the town of New HufTalo which is 
filed in Vol. 4, p. 217. of the Laud Records of Linn county; this has also been 
vacated. 

The plat of the town of Mayfield was made by J. M. May and filed for record in 
Vol. 143, p. fi24. It bordered on the Cedar river and embraced lot 4 and part of 
section 34, township 83, range 7. It also has been abandoned, although May's 
twenty-five additions, re-plats, etc.. made by Ma.jor May. are still i)arts of addi- 
tions to Cedar Rapids. Major May was a man of enthusiasm, and spei-ulnted. 



144 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

believing, with Colonel Sellers, that in every enterprise he undertook there would 
be millions, but he died a poor, luiknown and disappointed man. 

Many of the old town sites have been vacated, and many of the old post- 
offices and eountiy stores which one found throughout the county in the early 
fifties can no longer be found on the map. From loica as It Is, published in 
1855, at page 153 we find the following notices concerning Linn county town.s 
and postolfices: Spring Grove, Boulder. Central Point. Cedar Oak. Newark, 
St. Julien. Ivanhoe. and Hoosier Grove, besides such towns as Cedar Rapids. 
Palo. Marion, and ^loimt Vernon. The book also mentions Iowa Conference 
Seminary, with a three story building, and with Rev. S. X. Fellows as superin- 
tendent. 

X. H. Parker in his Handbook of loica. issued in 1856, uientions a few more 
new towns not mentioned in the previous list, as follows: Fairfax, Lisbon, La- 
fayette, Jlon Diu, Necot, Oak Grove. Prospect Hill. St. ]Mary. Spring\'ille. and 
Valley Farm. This author also speaks of the newspapers published in the 
county, the Eegisier at Marion, and the Times, the Fanner, and the Democrat 
at Cedar Rapids. 

Another handbook of the state, published by J. G. ^lills. of New York, in 
1857, mentions the towns set out in the handbook of a year previous and adds the 
new town of much promise by the high-toned name of Paris, located in Jaclison 
township, near the present to«Ti of Coggon. 

Few, if any, today can locate those villages and towns which sprang up from 
time to time over the county, and wliich long since have passed out of Iiistory 
and memory. 

Of the newspapers pul)lished at that time only the Marion liegister has con- 
tinued to be issued. The others have passed away and one does not now know 
who were the editors and publishers of these early attempts at .journalism in the 
pioneer days. These newspapers, no doubt, did much in keeping open the spirit 
of the people and in advertising the state. 




BUTLER PARK AT SPRINGVILLE 




BUSINESS DISTRICT OF SPRINGVILLE 



CHAPTKR \1X 

Some of the 01 J Settlers 

It is. perhaps. inii)i«silili' to say i-veii now with any degrw of i-ertaiuty, who was 
thi- first actual scttlt-r in Linn county. However, it is not very difTieult to men- 
tion at h'ast some of the early .settlers. It is said that Dyer Usher and James Ames 
came up the Cedar river as far as the rapids on a huntinf,' expedition as early as 
the spring of 183t); how lonp the.se men remained in what later became Linn 
county is not known, hut it is not likely that they stayed very lon^r. AVe have 
pretty pood evidence that later during the sinnmer came Daniel C. Doty, his two 
sons. James, and Elias. and nephew. Jacoh Crane, as far as Hertram and viewed 
the country e.xpecting to hx-ate when land was thrown open for settlement. ;Mr. 
Doty was l)orn in Es.sex county, New Jersey, in 1764. had early drifted west to 
Cincinnati, and hy boat had come down the Ohio and up the .Mi"ssissipj)i. landing 
at what is now JIuscatine. His children were horn in Ohio. They followed the 
Cedar river until they struck what became later Ijinii county to locate claims. 
There were no settlers here, and they found no people with whom to converse. 
hut figured that here would he a good IfK-ation t<t get cheap land when this land 
was opened for settlement. They returned to Ohio for their families, expecting 
to retuni the following si)ring. but they did not, in fact, return for three years 
on account of the financial depression. Israel Mitchell staked tmt the to\ni first 
called Westport in July, 1838. which town was later called Newark, named in 
honor of Newark. New Jersey, where the family originally came from. Here 
Elias Doty. Jr.. was horn in October. 184L Elias Doty. Sr., erected the first 
sawmill on Big <-reek in 1841. \r. the erection of which mill he was killed 
in the raising of the timbers. Daniel Doty, Sr., had the following sons, 
to-wit: James, Elias. John, and Daniel, all young men who early drifted west. 
Daniel C. Doty, the father of these sons, was never a resident of this countv, but 
simply came here to find homes for his children. He died in Ohio in 1849: the 
widow died in Ohio in 18()3 at the advanced age of ninety-eight. 

James Doty, born in 18(li», was the first real pottery n'laker in Iowa. W,- had 
learned the trade in Ohio. This erude potterv- building was standing on the old 
honiiestcad ni> to within a few years ago. At the time of his death, January 17, 
1847. he had over three hundred .jars, jugs, crocks, etc., ready for deliver?-." In 
this early day there was great demand for such merchandise as it was something 
eyerj- farmer had to have, and it coulil only be obtained in a few places and at 
high prices on ai-count of the transportation. 

Anollu-r Linn county [)ionecr well known in the early days was Israel Mitchell, 
whosfak.'d out the town of Westport in 1838. Mr. .Mitchell "was horn in Kentucky, 
JaJiuary 1.'., HitH, the son of Moses Mitchell, of Scotch descent, and <m the mother's 
side. Elizabeth (Irant. of Welsh descent, and a near relative of Daniel Roonc. the 
Indian fighter. As a young man Israel Mitchell attended a Kentucky colleffe 
and graduated therefrom. lie studied for the niinistrv". but gave that up on 
account of his voice, and later took a course in medicine, but gave up the prac-tice, 
as his step-daughter. Mrs. Slavin, writes, "bei-anse he was t<Mi tender hearted." 
He had studied law as well as surveying. After his marriaee he removed to 
Ohio in the early ''JHs with his wife and two children, viz: Angeline and John 
Mit.hell. He soon drifted into Indiana, and from there he removed to Wi.sconsin, 
working in the lead mines near Apple river in the southwest i)art of the state 



146 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

as surveyor. From Wisconsin he came by way of Dubuque to Linn county in 
the spring of 1838 in eompauj' with John, James, and Chamber Hunter, and 
Jacob Leaho. They all settled on the banks of the Cedar river in sections 32 and 
33, township 83, range 6. IMr. Mitchell was a widower at this time and he and 
his children stayed with the Leabo family. At Marion he married Mrs. Mary 
Ross, nee Mary Arnold, a native of Princeton, New Jersey, on November 7, 
18-15, Esquire Goudy, one of the first justices of the peace, performing the mar- 
riage ceremony according to the territorial laws of Iowa. Of this marriage were 
bom five children: Luther IL, Caroline, Israel, Boone, and Maris Morton. 
By her first marriage Mrs. Ross had four children. She died in Oregon in 1858. 

Mr. Mitchell sat on the first grand jur\- summoned in the county, was one of 
the first justices of the peace in the county, and was also the first probate judge. 
He acted as a frontier lawyer, did more or less sun'eying. at which he was an 
expert, and in many ways was a most useful man to the community. Mr. 
Mitchell was a true southerner, his home was always open, and he did much enter- 
taining. He spent much of his time interesting his friends and acquaintances 
in new enterprises, and in various ways tried to build up a great town on the 
banks of the Cedar river. Whether it was due to the failure of his new town to 
materialize or the western fever that got hold of him, we do not know, but just 
at a time when he should have remained he saw fit to emigrate, going with oxen 
overland with his family in 1847, locating about eight miles southwest of Portland, 
Oregon. Here he tilled the soil and became a noted sur^'eyor. In 1873 he re- 
turned to Linn coiuity to visit his old friends, giving glowing descriptions of the 
far west and especially of the Spokane country. On his return by way of San 
Francisco to Portland he fell in one of the gangways on the steamer, and received 
injuries from which he died a few days later after reaching home. Mr. Mitchell 
was a member of the Presbyterian church and affiliated ^nth the democratic party. 
J. J. Daniels, his old friend, described Judge ilitehell as follows: "He was truly 
an educated man, and in early life had learned the science of surveying, and this 
was the work he was particularly called for ; when not engaged in this occupation 
he farmed and kept a ferry. When the writer became acquainted with him on 
the Cedar river he was an active man on foot and could swim almost equal to a 
duck; bathing in the Cedar in warm weather was his usual custom. He was a 
medium sized Tnan and stood veiy straight and erect, having black hair a little 
tinged with grey, large blue eyes, a high, round forehead, and in appearance 
resembled Edgar A. Poe, and was ecjually as brilliant a poet as Poe, having enough 
manuscript to make a book of poems. He was truly a Clu-istian man in many acts 
of kindness, and verified his profession of faith in a true Christian religion." 

Robert Ellis, Linn county's oldest living settler, was born in Westmorland 
coimty, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1817, emigrated to Ohio in 1837, later to 
Michigan, and started on foot to Iowa Territory in the winter of 1838. He 
remained for a few weeks in Cedar county and started again on foot looking for 
a claim in the timber near some river. Coming to the present site of Cedar 
Rapids the fii"st man lie found was a man by the name of Hull, who held down a 
claim where the T. M. Sinclair Company packing house is now located ; coming 
further up along the river he found the tavern of Osgood Shepherd. IMr. Ellis 
liked the place and staked out his claim on his present location near what is 
known as Ellis Park. He was at work there cutting wood one day when Shep- 
herd came along with another man, and insisted that this claim belonged to him. 
Ellis was not easily frightened, and as Shepherd was going to attack him, Ellis 
raised his ax and threatened to chop his head in two if he took another step. This 
threatening attitude on the part of Ellis frightened Shepherd and he and his com- 
panion retreated, Ellis never being disturbed afterwards. Shepherd never re- 
ferred to the matter. The next summer when Shepherd's father died Ellis and 
Lichtebarger made the coffin and assisted at the burial, when Shepherd seemed to 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS 147 

be verj' imich touched l)y tlie kindness of these two men and thanked them 
profusely. 

Kllis became a friend of the Ijielitebarper boys and also of 0. S. Bollin*;. 
Bollintr and Ellis assisted Tom Lewis, the old pioneer, to {?et his wagon and eattle 
across tlie river when he came west to locate, on what became later known as 
"Lewis Hottoms. " Ellis worked for awhile at the Winnebago ^lission at Ft. 
Atkinson, Iowa, wliere he met a number of military' men who later became known 
in the Mexican war, as well as in the Civil war. 

As lie was fri-ciiiently in c()mpany with men who took newspapers and who had 
travelled about the country, he heard of the gold excitement in California and 
at once crossed the country to Marion wanting to go west. At Marion he met 
Dan Mentzer, a man by the name of Harvey, and another person by the name of 
Green. They purchased an outfit and started for California in April, 1849, 
arriving at the diggings in that state the same summer after many hard exper- 
iences, lie remained for several years digging gold as a placer miner and keeping 
a grocery store, and for a time he ran a stage between Georgetown and Coloma. 
carrj'ing express, pa.ssengers, anil the mail. Here he met and a.s.sociated with 
Sutter, the old German who iliseovered the first gold diggings, as well as his 
partner, saw Fair, Huntington. Mackey, and the boisterous Stewart, some of them 
"running .saloons toda.v and owning mines tomorrow." After remaining in Cali- 
fornia for seven years he returned home by way of the Nicaragua route and there 
met and talked with General Walker, the famous filibusterer. 

Philip Hull. a<cording to Robert Ellis, had arrived in what l)ecame Cedar 
Rapids just a very few weeks befors he came. He says: "Hull was of m.v age 
and I took a liking to him. He weighed about 170 i)ounds, was about five feet 
eight inches tall, had dark hair and was stoop shouldered. He was a native of 
Ohio, and returned to Illinois or Ohio in 1840 to get married, as he was verv' 
lonesome out lu re on the prairies of Iowa. Hull never returned to Cedar Rapids. 
Mr. Hull and I walked to William Abbe's and bought four yoke of oxen, a wagon, 
and a breaking plow. We had but little money so we agreed that in payment 
for this |)ropert.v we should break 7;') acres of land and cut and split 10,t)<)0 rails, 
which we tlid. It took two men to break, one to handle the cattle and one to hold 
the plow. It was no easy job on a hot day when the oxen would jjuII for a pond 
with all their might if not closel.v watched, and many were the times they would 
give us the slip and woidd lie dowii in the pond and we could do nothing but wait 
till the air cooled and night came on. Neither one of us made an.vthing, and I 
saw nothing of Mr. Hull till I met him at Sacramento. California, where he had 
prece<ided me l)y several months. We often talked over our lives in Linn countv. 
neither one at the time even believing that Cedar Rapids had any future. Hull 
was an agreeable companion, a splendid fellow and square in all his dealings. 
He preferred frontier life and would be content in no other l(K-ality except on the 
frontier." 

Ellis says further of Wm. Abbe : 

"Abl)e and I were in partnership in dealing with the government. Abbe 
made the deals with the government and I made most of the pun-hases from the 
settlers. At one time Abbe and I had just completed a contract with the govern- 
ment for j)rovisions, and then Indian Agent Ilarvev in St. Louis insisted that 
we nuist al.so furnish 1<M) cattle within six days at Ft. Atkinson. This was rather 
a dilTicult task but Abbe said we had to do it and we rode awa.v in a hurrj" back 
home to bu.v up cattle and drive them back to Ix- there in time. Wc worked da.v 
and night and had the cattle at Ft. Atkinson on time. As Abbe had to go to 
Prairie du Chien I was ordered to return home with $1,000.00 in gold which had 
been paid for the cattle. I did not like to go alone over the open jjrairie with the 
mone.v but there was no wa.v out of it and so I started bright and earl.v. That 



148 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

night I reached Quasqueton aud stayed over night at a small tavern where there 
were all kinds of people hanging about. The next day I set out again aud got 
down in the neighborhood of Center Point and there spied a deer. I got oft" my 
horse and loaded my gun, aimed, and fired. The horse shied and off it started 
on a dead run with the gold in the saddle bags. I next wanted to shoot the 
horse for it was worth much less than the money, but before I could reload the 
horse was out of range. I ran as fast as I could and in an hour fomid the horse 
tied to a tree in the timber with the gold safe i*i the saddle bags" 

A.sked how about the deer. Jlr. Ellis replied. "Well, I never took time to see 
whether I killed that deer or not. I was so excited about that gold and that horse 
that I forgot the deer at that time and never turned around to look. " 

Since his return home j\Ir. Ellis has lived quietly on his claim which now for 
the most part has been platted into city lots. Mr. Ellis is the only person now- 
living who can remember when he saw* one cabin here become a city of 34,000 
inhabitants. 

John J. Daniels, the son of Jeremiah Daniels, came to Bertram to^^-nship in 
the spring of 1844. his father entering land on what is knovm as Indian creek, 
erecting a log house and bam thereon. J. J. Daniels was one of the first school 
teachers in the count.v. He held many township offices, and was for a time county 
recorder. Jerry Daniels died in 1882. and John J. Daniels a short time ago. 

James Bassitt and wife came to Linn count.v in ]\Iarch. 1839, and ]\Irs. Bassitt 
is supposed to have been the first w'hite woman to cross Indian creek, a stream 
which empties into the Cedar river below Cedar Rapids. A short time afterwards 
Rufus H. and Sarah Ann Lueore came from Pennsylvania and stopped with the 
Bassitts. On the first day of April, 1839. arrived Joseph II. and John Lichte- 
barger, locating on what became Kingston or "West Cedar Rapids ; later a brother, 
Isaac, also arrived. These brothers erected one of the first cabins, in Hay of that 
year, on the west side of the river. It is still standing. 

At what became Central City arrived in August, 1839, Joseph Clark and 
family; this place was for a long time known as Clark's Ford. Here Mr. Clark 
erected a primitive grist mill by .selecting a hollow gum and placing in the trunk 
of tlie tree a stone ; upon this w-as placed another stone which was operated by a 
long sweep and turned on a pivot ; in this rude manner enough meal was ground 
out to suppl,v the family. 

Joel and James Leverieh arrived in this count.v some time in 1839. and chose 
for their homo what became later known as "Mound Farm." Ira Leverieh 
.]umped a claim which had been staked out in April of this .year by Rufus Lueore 
aud after more or less trouble, in which the settlers took Lueore 's part, Leverieh 
had to .vield and give up his pretended right. Joel was a noted character. He 
is described as a man of commanding presence. For a number of years he 
controlled the elections and it was told that "as Joel Leverieh went so went Linn 
county." Dr. S. D. Carpenter, who arrived in 1849. ha.s the following to sa.y 
about Joel Leverieh: "I had hardl.y got settled imtil I was interviewed bv old 
Joel Leverieh, the noted character of Linn count.v of that day. He was known 
as the 'bogus coon' because, as was alleged, he had to do with counterfeiters. 
He was a power in politics and was the kind of a man from which the modern 
boss has evoluted. Joel looked me over, a.sked where I was from, where I was 
going, and what m.y business was, etc. I was somewhat indignant and tried to be 
sarcastic, but Joel in terminating his interview with me squelched me b.v re- 
marking, 'Young man, a fellow who wears such a hat as you raa.v pass in this 
country, but I consider it d — d doubtful.' I. unfortunatel.v. wore a black plug 
hat which was not the style in Iowa at that time. In after years Joe and I 
became fast friends and I became quite convinced that the shady stories told of 
him were the talk of enemies who were jealous of him because he was smarter 




PICNIC AT HOME OF GEO. L. DURNO, SPRINGVILLE, 1884 




lKs^ 



ILLINOIS CENTRAL DEPOT, CENTKAL CITY 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS 149 

thaii the tri"eat<'r majority of thoiu. 1 was with hiiu when he died and although 
he was a free thinker he passed away with all the calmness of a stoic philos- 
opher." When on his death bed some one said to Leverich, "Joe. you have 
burned the candle at both ends." "Yes." he replied, "and now it bums me in 
the middle." 

George R. Carroll in his Pioneer History, speaking of Leverich. says: "The 
Mound Farm did not remain long in the possession of Broady, possibly a year and 
a half, when it came into pos.session of the notorious Joel Leverich; everybody 
knew him and evcryl)ody dreaded him. especially when he was under the inlluence 
of liquor, which was often the case. Even his best friends then felt it to be 
prudent to pive him a wide berth, not knowin<r what instant he would take it 
into his head t > knock them d<)\ni. \Miiskey seemed to make a demon of him, 
and to attempt to reason with him while under it.s inlluence would have been as 
futile as to try to reason with a cyclone. His poor wife, a most patient and 
estimable christian woman, would sometimes hide away from him for days lest 
in his fits of uncontrol and lUicontroUable pa.ssion he might take her life. And 
yet old Joe. as be was popularly called, had a good deal of inHuence in the com- 
munity. He was a strong |>artisan politician, and whoever arrayed himself 
against him was sure to have a hard battle to fight and in the end would very 
likely meet with defeat. He was a-s keen and cimning and wily as the old serpent 
himself, and it was verj- hard to circumvent him in his plans. He was accused 
of harboring horse thieves and of making counterfeit money ; as to whether he 
ever did either or not I could not say." 

While T. S. Parvin was United States attorney at Muscatine Joel Leverich 
was tried for counterfeiting, and while Parvin had said some hard things about 
Joel's mode of making a living he had also said some verj' nice things about 
Joel's wife Later Leverich called on Parvin at the hotel, insisting upon speak- 
ing with him. Par\nn's friends warned him not to do so as Joe would likely kill 
him. but Mr. Parvin thought be would (ake his chance and Joe did see him. 
Leverich .said. "Ain't you afraid of me?" "Xo." replied Parvin. "you can kill 
me if you want to l)ut you cannot scare me." "Well." replied Joe. "I admire 
your grit; I came not to scare you or to hurt you but to tell you that you did tell 
the truth about my wife." Some time after that Parvin pa.ssed where Leverich 
lived and accepted of Mr. Leverich 's hospitality. 

Joel Leverich 's brother. James, was a saloonkeeper in Cedar Rapids and when 
he ascertained that Joel's death was due to his dissipation, causing a .serious 
stomach trouble, he quit the business. Joel Leverich .sold his claim in 184.'? to 
Judge Greene. He resided near the MeCloud Run for a short time and then 
moved to town, dying in the '4()s. 

One of the most unique characters in Cedar Rapids, and a person we know the 
least about, was Osgood .Shepherd, who was a hiinter and trapper and who is said 
to have erected the first log cabin on the banks of the Cedar river where the 
Y. iL C. A. building now stands, unless Wilbert Stone's claim is correct that he 
was first. When Robert Ellis came to the Shepherd tiivem in April or May. 
18;W, Shepherd had lived here for some time. He had a wife and his father was 
living with him at that time, and he also had a number of men who hung about 
his place, but what their business was no one knew. The log house was about 
16x20. covered with clapboards which were hebl in place by logs on top with ends 
protruding at the gablt«?. There were also in the family three children, who made 
things lively about the house. This small cabin was known as Shepherd's 
Tavern. From Jfr. Ellis's dest-ription of Shepherd, he was more than six feet 
tall, of a .shindy or redilish comi>l<'xion. was good natured as a rule and was an 
accommodating and agreeable landlord. He was accu.sed of being a hors«» thief, 
but .Mr. Ellis does not know that he ever engaged in this kind of business. 
However, this is true, that his morals were not of the highest order and it is be- 



150 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

lieved that he harbored horse thieves who, in fact, were his special favorites. 
On the various islands in the river they secreted their stolen goods. It was also 
stated that in "Wisconsin he wa.s convicted of horse stealing and sent to the peni- 
tentiarj', but how true this is no one knows. His father and one or two children 
died here and were buried on top of the hill where the Cedar Rapids Candy 
Company's large building has since been erected. ]\Ir. Ellis says that Shepherd 
told him he was from New York state and for some time had been a sailor on the 
lakes before coming west. He held all the land as a squatter, and when N. B. 
BrowUj Addison Daniels, H. G. Angle, and others came they had to buy Shepherd 
off in order to get title to this property. The patent to this land was dated 
December 1, 1845, although quit claim deeds and prior rights were dated in 1843, 
Addison Daniels and Nicholas B. Brown being the patentees. The patents in- 
eluded grants in the amount of two hundred and sixty-nine acres, and showed that 
they had paid the amount due at the land office at Marion according to the 
provisions of Act of Congress of April 24, 1820. 

Osgood Shepherd had a friend named Bill Fisher, who always stuck bj^ him, 
and of whom Shepherd's father used to say, "that when he moved something was 
going to happen, but it was not very often that he moved." He was a slow-going, 
lazy sort of an individual, and what Shepherd saw in Fisher, Ellis never knew. 
Nothing is known of Fisher and what became of him. In the fall of 1841 Shep- 
herd removed to "Wisconsin and was later killed in a railway accident. His 
widow married a person by the name of Carpenter and removed to Linn county, 
residing near Center Point. "What became of the Shepherd family no one has 
been able to learn. 

Osgood Shepherd and the pioneer settlers with whom he associated were per- 
haps no worse or no better than the average frontiersmen. They had been trained 
in hardship and sordid poverty, and the women bore the stamp of the early pio- 
neers, devoted to their families, shirking no hardships, ever willing to move west- 
ward on account of the freedom gained and the opportunities offered. 

Of a different type of mankind was the progressive, enterprising and enthus- 
iastic Nicholas B. Brown, who purchased Shepherd's claim, the most prominent 
figure in the history of the early days of Cedar Rapids. Mr. Bro\m arrived in 
1840, purchasing the rights of Shepherd with Addison Daniels and others. On 
August 4, 1841, he began surveying what was then Iniown as Rapids City. He 
improved the water power which BrowTi early foresaw would make the town. A 
saw mill was completed in 1842 and the waters of the Cedar began to make its 
machinery hum; this was the first real enterprise of which the town could be 
proud. A woolen factory was also erected by Brown, which was later disposed 
of to the Bryan family. In 1846 and 1847 a grist mill was also added. On 
account of his many enterprises in which he had to depend on others Mr. Brown 
was involved in nmch litigation, but he was a born fighter for whatever he thought 
was right and accumulated a fortune because he had the tenacity of pm-pose to 
hold on to what he had purchased. As a pioneer he did some excellent work 
and certainly was one of the shrewdest business men of Cedar Rapids in his day 
and generation. 

Mr. Brown was born in the state of New Jersey in 1814, removing as a young 
man to the state of KentuckJ^ His first wife was Catherine Craig, daughter of 
Thomas Craig, one of the pioneers. She lived only a few years. His second wife 
was Susan Emery, daughter of one of the early settlers of this city. IMr. Brown 
died in 1880, one of the most honored and respected men in the community, sur- 
vived by his widow and t\vo sons, Emery Brown and Harry Brown. The widow 
died in 1900, one of the best known and most respected in the city having person- 
ally known nearly all of the settlers in the '50s and '60s. 

Dyer Usher is said to have hunted and trapped in Linn county as early as 
1836 in company with one Jim Ames ; how true this is cannot be ascertained, but 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS 151 

hi' did come to locate in 1838. lie came of a sturdy family, was l)oru in Ohio, 
and at the age of eif^hteen in 1832 he crossed tlie Mississippi, being one of the 
first white settlers to step upon Iowa soil. Mr. Tsher brought the firet divorce 
suit in Ijinii county. This business hjis grown by leajjs and bounds since that 
time. lie attended for a number of yeai-s the old settlers meetings and was a 
well known Hgure in the early days in this county. Mr. I'sher was thrifty, hon- 
est, and fair in his dealings. He died Dit-cmber 11. 18!)4. at the age of eighty 
years. His widow, Kosauna Harris, died in 1!)U9 at Covington at the age of 
seventy-nine. She was born June 6, 1829, in London, Canada, and with her 
parents emigrated to Iowa in 1845. She was united in marriage to Dyer Usher 
Jul\''2!(. 1847. To this vuiion were bom twelve children, of whom five survived 
her: Willard R., of Alberta. Canada, Mrs. Alice Han-is, of Esthcrville, Mrs. A. 
H. Miller, of Cedar Kapids. Mrs. Ray Lockhart, of Shellshurg, and Dyer X. I'sher, 
of Covington. She had l)een a resident of Linn county for sixty-three years. 

It is still a disputed question as to who was the first actual settler on what 
later be<'ame Cedar Rapids. It is true that Shepherd ran a sort of hotel or tavern 
and was the best known man in this part of the country in that early date, but 
it is not likely that he was the first man to build a log <'abin here. Philip Hull 
had been liH-ated in the lower end, when Ellis arrived in 1838, and Ellis also 
found William or \Vilbcrt Stone in ])ossessi(in of the land on the west side of the 
river, and he was the one who staked out what he called "Columbus" in 1838, 
having previously staked out Westport and sold his claim to John Henry. 

Information as regards William Stone has lately been discovered through a 
daughter residing at Xorth Liberty. She states that her father's name was 
James Wilbert Stone. l)ut he wa.s commonly called William or Hilly; that he was 
borTi in the state of Rhode Island and drifted west into Iowa in 1832 or 1833. and 
that he alwaj's asserted that he built the first cabin on land which later became 
Cedar Rapids. It is said that he drifted west by way of ^luscatine or Rock 
Island and followed the Cedar river as far as Ivanhoe. later coming to the rapids 
of the Cedar river. Mr. Ellis says that he knew William Stone very well ; that 
he was a ((uiet, congenial, splendid fellow, and at this time resided on the west 
side, having a claim along the river extending northward to the blutV, and that a 
Mr. Galloway claimed south of a large cottonwood tree on the same side of the 
river. Stone and Galloway were on good terms and owned the adjoining claims. 
John Young and a man by the name of Granger, O. Shepherd, and Philip Hull 
were the owners or claimants of the land on the east side of the river. The 
daughter of Stxme a.sserts that her father always said that he first located his 
claim on the east side of the river. It may be that Stone may have Tnoved across 
the river after She|)herd erected his tavern, and madi' claim to the land near and 
adjoining the rapids. It is intimated by Ellis that Stone and Shepherd were not 
on the best of terms and Shepherd, being a large, pompous kind of a person, he 
might have driven the more (piict and le.ss a.sserlive new neighbor across the 
river. The daughter of Williairi Stone, or James Wilbcrt Stone .Mrs. Elizabeth 
Hrdlicka, states that her father bought goods and traded with the Indians for 
furs for some years, and that the last time her father talked to her he told her that 
he was sorry he ever gave up the town of Cedar Rapids but did not think then 
that it would amoiuit to anything. In 1843 he removed from what was Cellar 
Ra|)ids to the Iowa river and married Elizabeth (i. Brown and settled in Oxford 
townshi]!, Johnson county. To this union were ln)rn two girls: one, the eldest, 
died and the second girl, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Hrdlicka, was taken by her grand- 
father, Joseph Brown, on her mother's death when the daughter was only fom* 
weeks old. After the death of his wife Stone removed tft Hudson, St. Croix 
county, Wisconsin. He returned to s<'e his daughter about once a year. He died 
at the age of forfj'-eight years in the state of Wisconsin. 



152 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

It seems from the storj' of the daughter of Stone, who is still living, that James 
Wilbert Stone was undoubtedly the first actual settler on the site which later 
became Cedar Rapids. From investigation it seems that Shepherd may have 
jumped Stone 's claim and for that reason Stone removed across the river. 

In Bailey & Hair's Gazetteer, 1865, the following mention is made of Wil- 
liam Stone: "The next [town site] in order of time was called Columbus, built 
by William Stone, in September, 1838. He abandoned his town the next spring, 
then being a single log cabin. The site was that occupied by the present city of 
Cedar Rapids." 

Mr. Stone was a speculator and a trader and had made some money trading 
with the Indians prior to the advent of Shepherd. This is true, that Stone did 
not hai-bor any people of unsavoiy reputations, and his whole life bears the im- 
print that he was a gentleman even on the frontier. Such a person people would 
not remember as well as a frontier character like Shepherd. Shepherd, on the 
other hand, whatever may have been his failings, was a man of a big heart, who 
attracted people to him. He had the love of adventure, and it is not any secret 
but that he harbored thieves and gave them more or less encouragement. Mr. 
Stone, on the other hand, was an honest, quiet man. the oppasite of his neighbor, 
and it is not to be wondered at that they did not get along. 

Another settler who came here at an early date was O. S. Bowling, or Boiling, 
who came in the .summer of 1838 making a claim on the west side of the river and 
in whose honor Bowling's Hill in the south part of the town was named. ]\Ir. 
Bowling was a quiet man, a good neighbor, and one imiversally loved hy the old 
settlers. 

In June, 1839, came Thomas Gainor and David W. King. These gentlemen 
found Wilbert Stone, the Lichtebarger brothers, and the claims of Young, Hull. 
Ellis, and Bowling. It is said that Mrs. Rosanna Gainer, wife of Thomas Gainer, 
was the first white woman to locate on the west bank of the river and con.sequently 
would be the second woman to locate in what became Cedar Rapids. ]\Irs. Osgood 
Shepherd being the fir.st. Mrs. Gainer did not reside long in Cedar Rapid.s. as 
she died June 8. 18-10, giving birth to a daughter who also died the same summer. 

David W. King became one of the most enterprising of the men of that early 
day. He ran a ferry, platted the town of Kingston, and died, the owner of much 
land, in the autumn of 1854. His death caused much sorrow in Cedar Rapids. 

In July, 1839, arrived Isaac Carroll and family, consisting of nine persons, 
all of whom were well known by the early settlers. A son. Rev. George R. Carroll, 
has written interestingly of the Carrolls. Weares. and others of the early settlers 
in his Pioneer Life in and Around Cedar Rapids from 1839 to 1849. 

Another early character was John Yardy. who arrived in July 1841. and 
built, it is stated, the first frame house at the corner of Third street and Sixth 
avenue, during the summer of 1842. Mr. Yardj' was a cabinet maker and an all- 
roimd person in the use of tools. He removed to Texas in 1856 where he died 
in the fall of 1878. 

Another of the old settlers was Thomas Dov\-ning, a native of Posey county, 
Indiana, and a tailor by trade who at the age of nineteen drifted into Iowa and 
in the early '40s came to Linn county. lie was a clerk in the Daniels Company 
store, I'emoving in 1855 to Waverly to conduct a business for Greene Bros., of 
Cedar Rapids. He died in Waverly in 1896. 

Samuel F. Hook was another of the residents of Cedar Rapids who came in 
1845 at the age of twenty-one. a native of the state of Yirginia. He died in 1848. 
and it is thought he was one of the first, if not the first, real store keeper within 
the boundaries of what became Cedar Rapids. 

J. H. Kelsey was born in New York state in 1819. and arrived in Cedar Rapids 
in 1848. He was a carpenter by trade. He removed to Yinton in 1863. going 
later to Nebraska where he passed away some time ago. 




METHODIST CHURCH, CENTER POINT 




SOUTH MAIN STREET, TRUV MILLS 



80ME OF THE OLD SETTLERS 15;^ 

Steve L. Pollwk. a native of Pennsylvania, arrived in Cedar Rapids in tiie 
early '4(>s and married .Marilla Liicore, a daughter of one of the early settlers, 
in Manh, 1844. He was the pioneer l>la«ksniith and is supposed to have built the 
third or fourth house in the eity. Harrison Cauiphell. it is stated, was the owner 
of the first lilacksniith shop, in 1843. Mr. Polkn-k eiuifirated west in 1865 and 
died in Hood Kiver. Oregon, in 1!)02. He was a brother-in-law of William Stew- 
art, one of the old settlers of this eity. both of them well and favorably known 
among the early pioneers of Cedar Rapids. 

IHram Deem was a native of Ohio and at the age of twenty-eight or twenty- 
nine located at Cedar Rajiids and hired out to X. B. Brown. He helped to build 
the dam aero.ss the river, erected sjiw mills, and otherwise Wius a very useful man 
in a town with the boom spirit that Cedar Rapids had at that time. He was also 
one of the first justices of the peace and many a scrap was settled in his house, 
which stood on First street on the west side. He entered the army and died from 
exposure in a hos[)ital boat in January, 1863. 

What later became known as "Time Check" was first entered by Farnum 
Colby, who came here in 1839 and made his claim along the river about a mile 
northwest of the First avenue bridge near Robert Ellis's claim. lie was a native 
of Pennsylvania and a very useful, hard-working man. From here he removed 
to Olin, Jones county, where he died some years ago. 

In the early "408 also came Charles R. Mulford from Iloboken. New Jersey, 
and at once began as a town merchant, opening a store in the Vardy house on 
Third street and Sixth avenue. He was one of the rao.st wide-awake business men 
of that day and had a good business, but was caught with the gold fever and emi- 
grated in 1849 to California, where he died. 

One of the i'cst known men in the state in an early date was Col. William H. 
Merritt. Mr. Merritt was born in New York city Se{)tember 12, 1820, and received 
a fair education at Lima Seminary. At the age of eighteen he was compelled to 
rely on hi.s own resources and .s<iught the west, settling in R<^K-k Island, Illinois, 
where he obtained a clerkshij). Through government officials and others he was 
sent to Ivanho<> on the Red Cedar river in 1839 to take charge of an Indian 
trading depot. Ivanhoe was a squatter town, being staked out in October, 1838, 
by Anson Cowles. To this place, which was expected to Itecome a large trading 
center, came also at the same time (icorge (ireene. who taught school in the 
ncinitj' during the winter of 1839. Mr. Merritt ran the store with considerable 
al)ility, and l«ng before the Civil war showed his presence of mind and braver}'. 
At this time, like in all other sUires of its kind, whiskey, tobacco, and groceries 
were sold over the same counter, and one day a number of Indians came, insist- 
ing on buying "goody toss." designated in English as whiskey. Mr. Merritt 
refused, as he had such orders from his em]>l(iyers. but the Indians insisted and 
b«^gan to take passession of the store, and intended t<> drive the young clerk out. 
A few pioneer hangers-on tied, but not so the young clerk in charge of the goods 
and the store. He got hold of an axe and with this he cleaned out single handed 
a whole squad of Indians, who left as quickly as they had made their appearance, 
much to the surpri.se of the white settlers, who up io this time had always Hed 
when the redskins outnumbered them ten to one. 

Mr. Merritt was related to (ieorne (rreene by marriage, and the two men were 
much totrether from this time on. Mr. Merritt became clerk in the Assembly at 
Burlington in 1841 and in i-oinpany with George (ireene edited the Miurrx' 
Express at Dubuciue. Lat<T he was caught with the gold fever nish and emi- 
grated to California, returning in 18.t1, becoming once more editor and part owner 
of the old paper. In 18"),'! he removed to Ft. Dodge, being appointed registrar 
of the land office at that place. He returned once more to Cedar Rapids and 
founded a l>anking house under the style of Greene. Merritt & Co., which firm 
later dispased of their banking interests to Sam|).son C. Bever. He was nomi- 



154 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

nated for governor ou the democratic ticket in 1861 but was defeated by Samuel 
J. Kirkwood. Later he enlisted and served with distinction during the Civil war. 

After the war Colonel Merritt became editor of the Statcsmau, one of the 
leading democratic papers of the state. He died at his home in Des iloines in 
1891, mourned by a large circle of friends all over the state. Colonel Merritt was 
for half a century one of the most all-roimd men in Iowa and a leader of his 
party. 

The Weare family arrived here in 1848 and for more than fifty years were 
prominent factors in the upbuilding of Cedar Rapids. John "Weare became a 
noted banker and railroad promoter. Charles "Weare became engaged in con- 
structing railroads and took charge of large contracts, was mayor of Cedar 
Rapids, postmaster, and consul in foreign countries. He was also connected with 
the First National Bank of Cedar Rapids, as well as with the Cedar Rapids "Water 
Company. George "Weare became a noted banker in Sioux City, and P. B. "Weare 
and Ely E. "Weare promoters and members of the board of trade in the city of 
Chicago. Later they promoted steamboat traffic in the Yukon country at the 
time of the gold fever rush. All these were sons of John "Weare, Sr.. who removed 
here from ]Michigan in the spring of 1845 in order to be with his children who 
had previously emigrated. Mr. "Weare, Sr., held the office of justice of the peace 
up to the time of his death in 1856. 

"William Stewart, a native of Pennsylvania, located in Cedar Rapids in 1847 
and entered the blacksmith shop of Pollock, later putting up his own shop, and 
besides operating a large farm. j\Ir. Stewart removed to California and died 
there in 1891, having acquired a fortime in Cedar Rapids real estate. 

Samuel S. Johnson was another Pennsylvanian who came to Cedar Rapids in 
1847. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade but gave that up for farming 
on arriving in Linn coimty. ^Ir. Johnson lived to the grand old age of eighty-five, 
and passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert Taylor. 

One of the most enterprising, active business men who located in Cedar Rapids 
in 1849 was Dr. Seymoiu' D. Carpenter, who was then twenty-three years of age, 
and had ostensibly come out here to practice medicine, but he later turned his 
attention to land speculations, polities, and other enterprises. Dr. Carpenter is 
still residing in Chicago, enjo.ying a hale and hearty old age. 

In order to give the reader an impression of Cedar Rapids as it was at that 
time we shall quote Carpenter's splendid article contained in the History of 
Crescent Lodge, by J. E. Morcombe, as follows : 

"I turned north and went to Ottumwa where I met Judge Greene, then a 
member of the Supreme Bench of Iowa; he persuaded me that Cedar Rapids 
was in the near future to become a metropolis and I decided to go there. After 
four days' hard riding and swimming several swollen streams. I struck the town 
on the afternoon of June 14. 1849 ; I crossed the river on a rope ferry operated 
by David King, who lived in a cabin on the west side; on the other side of the 
river stood a cabin, once the home of a man named Shepherd, and said to be the 
resort of thieves in an early day. I can not say that I was very favorably im- 
pressed by the thirty or fortv small one-storj' unpainted houses that were .scat- 
tered about near the river. There seemed to be a great deal of sand, and the 
houses were so situated that there was no sign of a street. There were three 
two-story houses, one on the river near the foot of what is now Third avenue called 
the "Park House" in which the Greenes had their store, one on Second street 
in which John Coffman kept a hotel, and one on Third avenue back of the Dows 
& Ely block, also a hotel. I was discouraged and would have travelled further 
but only had about $10.00 left and from necessity had to stop. I put up at the 
Coffman hotel which, as I have said, was a two-stor>- structure with a wing; it had 
been built of unseasoned oak lumber and was not plastered; the whole of the 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS 155 

secoud storj' of the main building was iu one room and contained eight or ten 
beds and was the eominoa sleeping room of the guests. The lumber had shrunk 
and there oovild bo no complaint as to ventilation, however short the aceomodations 
migiit be in other respects. . . 

"Within a week I made the ae(|uaintance of all the people of the town. 
Among the leading persons were William and Joseph Greene, brothers of the 
Judge, Lowell and Lawson Daniels. Homer Hishop and John Weare, all of whom 
were merchants. The three stores of which they were the proprietors would not 
compare well with the department stores of today, but all the same they were 
department stores and in their miscellaneous stocks the customer could find all he 
wanted — from castor oil to l)road axes. 

"Pollack and Stewart were the blacksmiths, and the carpenters and wagon 
makers were represented, but I can not recall their names. There was also a 
saloon kept by James Leverich. a brother of Joe, a respectable man and a good 
Ma.son. The inhabitants were mostly young people, John Weare, Sr., Deacon 
Kennedy and Porter Earl being the exceptions. I found three doctors already 
located, Dr. Mansfield, Dr. Traer and Dr. Larabee. the latter being what was called 
a "steam doctor." Isaac Cook and Henry Harmon represented the law. 

"The town was by no means dull; emigrants were coming daily, and the .saw 
mill operated by John Weare, Jr., was kept busy cutting lumber for the new hou.ses 
that were going up. There was no church building, but Parson Jones preached 
in the school house, as did preachers of other denominations, and Sunday schools 
and Bible classes were in full blast. 

"On the Fourth of Jidy a grand ball was given at the Coffman Hotel, to which 
flocked yoiuig people from Marion and all the surrounding country; there were 
at least tiftj- couples. The beds were removed from our common sleeping quar- 
ters, which, decorated with green boughs, became a ball room. Every part of 
the hou.se was crowded and the fun was fast and furious. Only one mishap 
slightly marred the festivities; near a stove pipe hole at one end of the room the 
floor was defective, and a husky reveler of more than ordinary weight while 
executing the double shuffle broke through and fell upon the hekds below; no 
injury was done and the dance went on. 

"Dr. Mansfield took me as a partner and in company with Judge Cook we 
had a room lOxKi in a small one-story liuilding opposite the mill, the other part 
being occupied by S. L. Pollock and family ; his blacksmith shop was nearby. Our 
medicines were kept on a shelf and a store box made a table; our bimks occupied 
one side and a few stools and two split bottom chairs made up our furniture. 
"We took our meals at the Coffman Hotel ; our field of practice embraced the set- 
tlers, not numerous, in the valleys of the Cedar and Iowa rivers !:nd their tribu- 
taries; we made very long rides. I was called to see a patient two miles above 
the present town of Vinton not yet begun ; I got lost in the night and waited for 
daylight under a tree on the bank of the river at the very place where Vinton now 
stands. Bilious fever and aprue were the prevailing diseases, all the newcomers 
having to undergo one or both. . . 

"We had mail three times a week from Dubuque and Iowa City; the Higley 
brothers did the .service in a two-horse hack : I think Joseph Greene was post- 
master. John Weare, Sr.. was justice of the peai'c; he was a very original 
eharact^T. fond of company and full of interesting reminiscences extending back 
to the war of 1812 in which he had lost a leg. His small office was in the rear of 
Mrs. Ely's residence which stood on the ground where the Dows and Ely blo<'k 
now is. He gave 'nicknames' to many people and places which stuck to them like 
burrs; the First Presbyterian church building was begun that summer and as the 
walls were built of cement. Old Mr. Weare named it 'The Muddy.' wbiih it 
retained to the last day of its exi.stence." 



156 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Dr. Carpenter states how they tried to promote a railway from Cascade to 
Fairfield, held meetings concerning railway extensions, and appointed delegates 
from various counties to these conventions to discuss the matter fully and to 
authorize the government to donate land and have eastern people furnish the 
money. He says: 

"Dr. J. F. El}' and myself were selected to go to Fairfield; we left Cedar 
Rapids on December 3 and after a three days' hard and cold travel reached 
Fairfield; Marion sent Col. I. M. Preston and Dr. Ristine. The convention met 
in a small school house; all the counties were represented; the Hon. C. W. Slagle, 
of Fairfield, then a very young man. was chosen president, and I was chosen 
secretary. . . 

"We departed for our various homes thinking the work half done, but sad to 
relate Cedar Rapids had to wait ten years longer for a locomotive. These two 
meetings were, I think, the first railroad conventions held in the interior of the 
state. Soon opposition claims were started for east and west lines and our 
project was ignominiously called the 'Ram's Horn.' The next year was quite 
a stirring one ; new people were coming in great numbers and many were leaving, 
for the California gold fever had broken out. Several outfits left Cedar Rapids, 
with one of thtm Dr. Mansfield, my partner, whose place was taken by Dr. S. C. 
Koontz, a cousin of mine, well known to the old citizens. 

"That year the first brick buildings were erected; a dwelling on Iowa avenue, 
near Greene's opera hou.se, and a three-ston' building on Commercial street by 
Judge Greene, which for a hmg time was the show building of the town ; we 
began to put on airs. 

"In the spring of 1852 a steamboat came to Cedar Rapids; it was a great 
event and attracted people from near and far; she brought a cargo of freight, 
among which were the household effects of Mr. Bever and my father, both of 
whom from that time forward became citizens of the town. This year, also, came 
Mr. Daniel 0. Finch with a printing press and forthwith started the Progressive 
Era. the first paper in the Cedar valley. [The Era was established in 1851.] 
Ezra Van Metre, a talented young lawyer from Circleville, Ohio, also came that 
year. Everyone was rejoiced that we had an organ and the editor was over- 
whelmed with original matter. There were at least a dozen young fellows in the 
town, myself among the rest, who thought they 'knew it all,' and anxiously rushed 
into print. The paper changed hands in a year or two. and became the Cedar 
Valley Times, and continued until a few years ago." 

Dr. Carpenter sold his practice to Dr. Koontz and went into the land business 
and in politics. Again we nmst quote what he has to say about the county seat 
fight which commenced the first few years he was here : 

"Cedar Rapids claimed that she was to be the commercial metropolis and there- 
fore ought to be the political center. The question was brought to an issue by the 
county commissioners ordering a new court hous(> at Clarion, .siibjeet to the ap- 
proval of the voters of the coimty. Cedar Rapids opposed the measure, believing 
that the building woidd insure the permanent location of the county seat. Then 
ensued a most bitter canvass. The voters were deluged with orator^-. ]\Iarion 
put on the stump Judge Lsbell, I. M. Preston. Col. William Smyth. N. 'SI. Hubbard, 
W. G. Thompson, and R. D. Stephens, against whom Cedar Rapids opposed 
Jas. J. Child, Ezra Van :\Ietre, Donald :McIntosh, A. S. Belt, E. N. Bat^^s. I. N. 
Wliittam and others. Every school district was canvassed and much bitter 
feeling engendered. The IMarion people were more adroit politicians and carried 
the election, but the residt did not discourage our citizens, who asserted that no 
election could affect 'manifest destiny.' 




M. E. CHURCH, TROY MILLS 




MILL AT I'KAIKIKBURC. 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTI>ERS 157 

"About 1852 Major J. M. May came to Cedar Kapids from Janesville, Wiscon- 
sin. The Major was a stirrinfr man with a liead full of schemes, lie .said that 
Cedar Rajiiils was a phice of immense po.ssil)ilities and only wanted eiiterjirise 
to make it the great town of Iowa He houpht land at the lower part of town 
adjoining that owned by my fatlier, and land on the west side adjoinin<r the river 
and Ix'low that owned by David Kmi;. He platted out town lots on both sides of 
the river, and induced my father and Kinp to do the same, which were the first 
additions made to the ori^riual town. He also surveyed the islaiul. sent a plat 
to the jjeneral government and took possession <>f it. much to the chaprin and sur- 
I)rise of the old settlers. Then he bcfjan to afxitate the (piestion ol a free bridfje. 
Evcrj'one wanted a free bridpe l)ut were undei-ided as to tiie loi-ation. The 
Major induced my father to sultscribe $15lH).(Mt. and he frave sflOOO.OO. which 
with sums contributed by others in the lower end of the town secured the location 
below the island at the narrowest place in the river. The bridjre was completed 
and throwii open to the public, I think, in the late fall of 1S.52. and jirovcd a 
preat convenience. The construction was defective and when the ice broke up in 
tJie sprinp. the heavy cakes knocked down two of the piers, and destroyed the 
greater jiart of the bridpi'. All the jieople of the t«\ra were collected on the bank 
of the river watcliinp the event, and two younp women who were crossing went 
down with the .structure and were drowned. This was the first bridge built at 
Cedar Rapids. The next was a bridge of boats at the foot of Iowa avenue which 
I believe was al.so swept away by ice." 

Dr. Carpenter speaks next of the formation of the real company who had 
money and who meant business in the formation of what was then known as the 
"Chicago. Iowa & Nebraska Railway," which built from Clinton to Cedar Rapids 
and to the Missouri river. "Cedar Rapids was given first directors as follows: 
Geo. Greene. John Weare. H. G. Angle. S. C. Rever and S. D. Carpent<?r, which 
positions we held till the road was built to Cedar Rapids." 

In speaking of the amount of money put u|) l)y these men in order to get this 
railway it is said that .$2(X).(K)U.()0 was pledged by Cedar Rapids, wliich amount 
was ra"ised as follows: .'{!lOO,OOO.Ot) by private subscription and $1()0,00().00 by 
city bonds. Greene & Weare. then bankers, subscribed .$1(),000.(X) : George Greene, 
$5,0On.(M) : John Weare, $5,(^)0.00; N. B. Brown. $;j.()00.()0; S. C. Bever. .$5,O(X).0O; 
Gabriel Carpenter, $.5,000.00, and numerous other suudler sums to make up the 
amount. Then a city election was had and the $1(KI.()00.0() voted by an over- 
whelming m.ijority. Surveys of the rovite were U'gini at once, and from Mount 
Vernon and Cedar Ra|)ids two lines were setni ; one l>y the way of Marion, and the 
other by the river. It was a.scertained that the latter route would be the shorter 
and cheaper by ,>t!lO0,0OO.(X) than the former, l)ut the company proposed to adopt 
the Marion route if she would sul)scribe $100.(XX1.00. This she iledincd to do. 
and the river line was chosen. Work progressed slowly and the first year found 
the rails no further west than De Witt. Clinton county. 

Dr. Carjienter speaks of another railroad venture when a company was 
formed known as the "Cedar Rapids & Mi.s.souri River Railroad Comi)any" with 
L. B. Crocker, of New York, as president, and with Major Bodfish and a number of 
Cedar Rapids men as directors. 

"When the legislature a.^semblfd in IM')!) and lSti(» we invaded the capital, 
and established our hcadi|uarters in an old liot<>l near the river, the name of 
which 1 have forgotten. Major Boddsh was the coiiunissary of the l)o<ly. We had 
no money to expend, but determined to be hospitable. The Major laid in a barrel 
of old rj'c whiskey ; as it was before the war, whiskey was cheap ; also several boxes 
of cigars. One of our strongi^st henchmen was J. W. Woodbury, a leading man 
from Marshalltown. and witli him Peter Hepburn, now an honored congressman, 



158 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

then a very stripling, but showing evident signs of what was in him. John A. 
Kasson was then a yoimg lawyer in Des Moines, and we secured him as our 
attorney. . . 

"The lawmakers were not in a hurry, but towards the last of the session they 
passed our bill, and you may be sure there was great rejoicing in Cedar K^pids. 
On our return the citizens gave us a grand banquet in Greene's Hotel, and we felt 
that we had at last secured a substantial victory for our city, as in fact it was, for 
thenceforth Clarion could no longer be our rival. The cars came to Cedar Rapids 
in the summer of 1859, just ten years after we had our first railroad meeting, 
and we felt at last that hope had ended in fruition. An immense concourse 
greeted their arrival from all parts of the surroimding country. General D. N. 
Sprague, then mayor, welcomed the guests, and the citizens threw open hospitable 
doors to all comers. Prom that time forward Cedar Rapids assumed metropoli- 
tan airs as the leading town of the Cedar valley. ' ' 

On politics Dr. Carpenter speaks as follows : 

"From the first, on my arrival at Cedar Rapids, I became an active partisan. 
General A. J. McKean of Marion was the acknowledged leader, but the following 
was small. At the state convention in 1851, held in Iowa City, I was the sole 
representative from Linn coimty. and there were not more than fifty delegates 
from the whole state. State officers were nominated and also a candidate for con- 
gress. Colonel Henderson, the father of J. W. Henderson of Cedar Rapids, was 
named for congress, and without much opposition I secured the nomination for 
secretary of state for m.y friend, Isaac Cook, who up to that time was entirely 
luiknown. I well remember with what surprise he received the news. Although 
there was no chance for his election it was the beginning with him of a long and 
useful career in many offices of trust, alike honorable to him and his constituents. 
As time rolled on and our population of immigrants from the north and especially 
from the New England states, and with the bearing of the whig party towards 
slaverj^ they became more hopeful, and by the year 1853 or 1854. the whigs car- 
ried the coiuity, electing both members of the legislature and the coimty officers. 
John P. Conkey was the first member of the legislature living in Cedar Rapids, 
and at the same election Isaac Cook was chosen for a county office. 

"About this time Charles Weare, Isaac Cook and many others cut loose from 
their old convictions and became ardent free soilers. " 

Dr. Carpenter speaks of how he abandoned medicine, how he opened a banking 
house in 1855, and became a land o\\Tier. having at one time as much as 1.600 
acres of land near where the town of Norway now stands. He was first connected 
with Lehman & Kreider, later forming the partnership of Carpenter, Stibbs & 
Company, the firm doing business until 1861. Dr. Carpenter attended the con- 
vention at Chicago that nominated Lincoln and was one of the first to enlist in 
the Civil war as a surgeon. He was mustered out in 1865. 

Henry E., Harvey G., Wellington W., and ilajor !M. A. Higley were for a 
generation merchants, financiers, and leaders in many enterprises in Cedar Rapids. 
They were bom in the .state of Connecticut, coming to this county in the early 
'40s. Henry and Harvey Higley for some time ojjerated a line of stages from 
Dubuque to Iowa City, and for that reason knew personally nearly all the 
prominent men of Iowa in the '40s and '50s. Iowa City being the capital and 
Dubuque the most enterprising city in the territory and state, the public men 
frequently travelled to and from these cities. Harvey Higley "got caught" with 
the gold fever and went to California, returning in a few years to Cedar Rapids. 
The Higley brothers made large fortunes in real estate which have descended to 
their children. 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS . 159 

The brothers. C. J. and Jacul) A. Hart, uatives of Marykiid, came to Cedar 
Rajiids in tlie early '.")()s. and for a generation were two of the mo.st successful 
lumber dcalci's in Cedar Kai)ids. 

Alexander L. Ely was one of the early millers, who died in the '40s. Ilis 
brother, Dr. J. F. Ely, eaine later to look after the business interests of his 
deceased brother, and for some fift^'en or twenty years wa.s a successful prac- 
titioner in Cedar Rapids. He and bis wife for a generation were leaders of the 
business and social life of this city. 

Homer r>islio|) was an old-time merchant, arriving in the early '40s, and for 
eight years was postmaster of Cedar Rapids. He was a congenial person, well 
knowni, and an enterprising and free-hearted nmn who did his best to build up a 
city on what was then thought to be the western frontier. 

No doubt the first Scandinavian settler to locate within the confines of Linn 
county was Xels C. Boye. a native of Denmark, who emigrated to tl'.e United States 
in 1827 and arrived in Mu.scatine in 1SIJ7 and located in the vicinity of Lisbon 
in 1888 where he purcbii-sed land and engaged in farming. Being brought up as 
a merchant he removed with his fainilj' to Iowa City in 1843 and for a time oper- 
ated one of the most up-to-date stores in the new capital. On a business trip to 
St. Louis in 1849 he fell a \-ietim to the cholera and died there on June 23. A 
number of his children continued to reside in Linn county, and a number of 
relations are still residents of this county. 

One of the old settlers of Ivanhoe was Dr. S. Grafton, who arrived there in 
1843 and travelled horseback u[) and do«Ti the Cedar and Iowa river valleys as 
far as Jones or as far northea.st as half way to Dubui|ue in the practice of his 
profession. He was born in Ohio in 1800, and died during the typhoid epidemic 
in 1845 and 1847. He was one of the best known of the early physicians, a 
gentleman, a scholar, and a man who did. perhaps, more during the few years 
of his practice to help the poor and the needy than any other of the early settlers. 
lie was married to Isabelle Patterson, also a resident for many years of East 
Liver]iool. C)iiio. Imt born in Pennsylvania. After the death of Dr. Grafton she 
married Herman Boye, a son of N'els C. Boyc. Mr. Boye was a cabinet maker and 
farmer. He got caught with the gold fever and emigrated to California in 1850, 
returning to Ivanhoe within a few years. It is said that he made mop' money in 
California seining for fish, which lie had learned in Denmark, than be did in 
digging gold. He died in 1880 at the age of sixty-two years. The widow died 
January 11. 18;t7. at the advanced age of eighty years, and is buried at Mount 
Vernon. 

Another of the old settlers of Bertram may be mentioned — Joseph Crane, a 
cousin of James Doty, who ha.s the honor, at least, of obtaining the first license to 
marry within the Territory, viz: in 1840 when be was married to Agnes Boghart. 

The first settlers seem to have been William Abbe, Daniel Habn. C. C. Has- 
kins. and Edward .M. Crow. Which one of these men actually was the first set- 
tler within the confines of the county may ever remain a disputed (piestion. We 
have the record when they entered lands, but this does not at all indicate that 
they did not live on these lands for several years before actual entry was made. 
The first settler in the vicinity of what became Mount Vernon was. no doubt, 
Charles Iliuskins. who bxated about a mile and a half east of the village in the 
summer of 1S37. He was at least one of the first to locate in that vicinity. It 
is said that Daniel Habn catue in the spriiii: of 1837. made a ••laim and built a 
log cabin, bis wife assisting him in building the house. Edward M. Crow has been 
.suppo.sed to have l)ecn the first settler, but it seems that he came in July. 1837, 
in company with his brother, and located near what later became known as Viola, 
where he made a claim and erected a small shanty. He returned to the Fox river 
.settlement for provisions and did not come back until in August, when he was 
accompanied by his brother and bv James Dawson. Altout this time also came 



KiO HISTORY OF LIXX COUNTY 

Joselyn ami Russell. Their eabins were located in the baek woods in Brown 
tomiship and was called "The Settlement" for some time. 

Later in the fall of 1837 arrived Jacob ^lann, having resided previously in 
Jones county. He located on what was known as "Big Creek" in Linn county, 
but he did not take possession of his rude cabin or claim until in February, 1838, 
when he and his daughter, Sarah, moved onto the claim and began housekeeping. 
He afterward built a grist mill on Big creek or purchased one built by John 
Oxley which was swept away in the spring of 1851. when ilann lost his life, 
refusing to leave his mill which, he said, "was dearer to him than his own life." 

Sally ]\Iann is supposed to have been, if not the first white woman in the 
county, at least one of the first, and many are the stories told of Sally, or rather 
Sarah, ifann. She was more masculine than feminine in her make-up and knew 
few of the customs and manners of good society. She raised cats for a living and 
used to sell these at fancy prices to the pioneer settlers. There was nothing 
attractive about Sally, for she was noted more for her strength and endur- 
ance than for grace and beauty. But even though Sally had very little to recom- 
mend her, women were scarce in those days and the settles were, perhaps, not 
so particular as they later became, and on July 21, 1840, Sally ^Mann and Aaron 
Haynes were duly married by John Crow, a justice of the peace. Sally HajTies 
nee ]\Iann, had many good traits of character. No one was turned away from her 
door hungry and she would help neighbors with any kind of work if necessary. 
The western life appealed to her, as it had to the members of her family, and when 
settlei-s came thick and fa.st she and her husband left for the far west in order, it 
was said, that they could breathe the pure air of the frontier. It was always thus. 

" 'Tis not the fairest form that holds 

The mildest, purest soul within ; 
Tis not the richest plant that holds 

The sweetest fragrance in." 

Gabriel Carpenter, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was born in 
1801. He arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1852 and invested all his funds in 500 
acres of land in what has now become the heart of the city. Various addi- 
tions in this citj' have been named in honor of this early real estate owner, who 
devoted all his time in the upbuilding of this city until his death in 1881. Jlr. 
Carpenter saw many hardships in his early career in life, but with great perse- 
verance overcame all. The first lumber he used was hauled by oxen from i\Iusca- 
tine. He became early interested in various enterprises in the city. He always 
gave liberally of his means to all worth.v objects and assisted in advancing all 
public enterprises which he believed would prove a benefit to the city. His widow, 
Mrs. Maria Carpenter, born in 1820, is still living and resides in this city, hon- 
ored and respected by all. 

Dr. S. D. Carpenter was born in 1826, and is a son of Gabriel Car- 
penter. In the early fifties he came to Cedar Raj^ids and located here for the 
practice of medicine. He soon gave up medicine for the more exciting and more 
lucrative vocation of railway building, banking, and handling of real estate. 
He now resides in Chicago. 

John E. Kurtz was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1817, emi- 
grated to Iowa in 1847. and became one of the founders of Lisbon. He was for 
more than half a century a well known farmer, merchant, and miller. In early 
life Mr. Kurtz was a whig in politics, later going over to the rei)ubliean party. 
A large number of his descendants still reside in this county. 

Peter I). Harman was a native of Adams count.v, Pennsylvania, where he 
was born in 1816. In 1840 he came to Iowa Cit.v. locating in Linn county two 
years later. Jlr. Harman assisted in the building of the state capitol at Iowa 
City, and also in the erection of the first court house in Linn cour.1v. In his day 




AT OLD SETTLERS' REUNION, MARION 




A PARK SCENE IN MARION 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS IGl 

and generation Mr. Ilarinan was considered one of the most skillful stone and 
l>rii'k masons in tliis part of tlie country. lie died in Hi-rfrain township in 18%, 
and is surv'ivoil by a number of children wlu) arc residents of this cduiity. 

Harnett J.,utz eaiue to Linn county in l.SS!l and was one of the best known 
of the old settlers. At the time of Ids death in 1901 he was one of the oUlest 
pioneers in the eoiuity. Mr. hutz was a true pioneer, and did much in building 
up the new country. 

V. J. Ives was not a pioneer settler in Linn <-ounty. but lie was a pioneer in 
developing,' railway properties in the state. Mr. Ives was a nati\e of New Knjj- 
lanil, cominp to Lee county in 1847. driftiujr into mininj,' in (lolorudo. aiul not till 
1862 did he tuni his attention to railroadintr. He was for a number of years 
president of the H., (.'. K. & N. railway, which he di'veloped into one of the best 
paying railway properties in the west. lie resigned when that road was absorbed 
by the Rock Island .system. Mr. Ives during his lon^r residence in Linn co\uity 
was deeply interested in the welfan of his em|)loyees, and in the upbuilding of 
Cedar Rapids. He was also interested in banks, electric liglit companies, and 
other large enter|)rises. lie was a practical business man, capable and forceful, 
with a miiui ever active in planning aiui executing great things. He was uni- 
versally respected by his employees, and never forgot in word, act. or deed that 
he was only an as.sociate and not a superior. No railway official at the time of his 
death a few years ago had more friends among the railroad men than Mr. Ives. 

David W. King, the fouiuler of Kingston, settled in Linn county in IS.'W 
when Indians were numerous and the white settlers scattered. Mr. King was a 
native of \Vestnu)rland coiuity. I'l'imsylvania, who went to Michigan early and 
from there drove an ox team lu'ross the country to Iowa, entering land on the 
west side of the river, which land is now a part of Cedar Rapids. Mr. King 
operated the first ferry across the Cedar river and had to obtain his material for 
the erection of the same from Dubuque and Muscatine, all of which was hauled 
in wagons across the country. The cable used in (([xTating the ferry was of wire, 
which was brought from Dubuipic on hoi-seback. The town of Kingston he 
platted in 18.")0. Mr. King was a real jtromoter. who early ciuM|M-eheiulcd the 
future of Cedar Rapids. In order to iiuluce people to locate on the west side of 
the river he was liberal and i)ublie-spirited. giving away many lots for factory 
sites and other enterprises. lie pa.s.sed away in 1854 at the age of forty-si.x, just 
at a time when he had attained to a prominent place a.s one of the leading citizens 
of the town, in the promotion of which he had devoted all his time and vcrsjitile 
talents. 

Robert Smyth, who died in 1898 at his home at Mount Vernon, was in 
many res|)ects one of the most enterprising men in Linn county. Bom in Ireland 
in 1814, and emigrating to America in 18:J4. he drifted into Linn county in 1840 
and .soon became an extensive dealer in real estate, as well as a hanker, and during 
all his life took an active part in polities. He was a member of the Sixth Terri- 
torial legislature in 184.1-44, a meud)er of the state legislature in 1846-48. Mr. 
Smyth was also paymaster of the I'nited StJites army, disbursing more than 
.•{ilO.dOO.tKMt.iMI during his term of office. In ISdH he was oni-e more returned to 
the .state senate where he served for four years, and in 1884 served aiu>ther term 
in the house. He was also delegate to many state conventions, and out.side of the 
late Charlw Weare knew more of the public men of Iowa than any other irian in 
Linn county. Mr. Smyth was a brother of William Smyth, the well known 
jurist, who died a mend)er of congress from this district. 

Kdward .M. Crow, by some people belieV(>d to be the first actual white 
settler in tin- county, was born in Orange county. Indiana, in 181fi of ancestors 
who had previously emiirrated from North Carolina. John Crow, the father, 
came to Linn county to the neighborhood of Viola in 18:t.S, and there he died in 
March, 1841, It in thought that Ed Crow enissed the Mississippi river in 1837 



162 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

and (111 July 4th laid claim to a tract of land on section 13 in Brown township. 
Thus, it would seem, that Abbe preceded him by several months. In company 
with Crow at that time there came Harrison Crow, a brother, as well as James 
Dawson, who built cabins on what is now known as Crow's creek near Viola. 
The}' also put up a little hay that fall. Thus, wliile these were among the first 
settlers, it must be conceded that they did not precede Abbe, Haskins, or Hahn 
in locating in Linn county. Ed Crow, it is true, was one of the early settlers 
and well known, a typical pioneer, but he was not the first settler, although he 
arrived in the historic year of 1887, when the white settlers were beginning to 
move into the territory not yet vacated by the red men. 

In mentioning the men who were factors in the upbuilding of Iowa, Theodore 
S. Parvin should not be omitted. During his residence in Linn county he de- 
voted most of his time to the upbuilding of a unique IMasonic lit)rary. He Avas 
k-nown throughout the United States as one of the leadei's of that order. 'Sir. 
Parvin 's love of collecting together many things was only one of the many sided- 
ness of a remarkable personage. Mr. Parvin wa.s born in Cedarville. New Jer.sey. 
Educated in the east, he drifted west to Cincinnati and there met Robert Lucas, 
recently appointed governor of Iowa Territory'. Mr. Parvin had been a teacher 
and had been admitted to the bar so he was well qualified for his mission as 
secretary to the governor. After coming to Burlington Mr. Parvin was United 
States attorney, clerk of the federal court, registrar of the state land office, and 
for many years professor and regent of the State University of Iowa. During 
all these years he lectured and wrote much. He died June 28. IPOl. one of the 
most widely known and most honored men in the state. "Steadfa.st in faith, 
without trace of cant, he walked the ways of life with simple trust in the Infinite 
wisdom and passed to his death relying on the guidance of an unseen hand." says 
his biographer. 

Julius E. San ford was one of the platters of the city of Cedar Rapids, and 
was a wide-awake, enterprising young man who for a while was in ])artnership 
with N. W. Isbell. Mr. Sanford was a native of Connecticut and was well edu- 
cated on coming west where he took up the practice of the law and engaged in 
real estate. He removed to Dubuque in 1845, where he died in 1847, lea\'ing a 
widow, Henrietta E. Sanford. who in 1848 married David Wilson. She died in 
1898. Perit Sanford. who figures in early real estate transfers, was the father of 
Julius Sanford, and heir of the estate, as the son died without children. 

Thomas Craig was an old settler in Linn county, and one of the best known men 
in the community. Mr. Craig was odd in some ways. He wore a white over- 
coat and had a fondness for horses. He was a .stanch Jlethodist. and at times 
would be reprimanded, for he refused to lead in prayer. Mr. Craig died many 
years ago, respected and honored by all with whom he had come in contact. 
One of his daughters was married to N. B. Brown and another to Jesse Beechly, 
who recently died in his old homestead in Franklin town.ship. 

Dr. Eber Ij. ilansfield was born in Canaan. Ohio, in 1821. He received a 
classical education and al.so took a medical cour.se later. On leaving home his 
father gave him a horse, saddle-bags, and an outfit, and he started out for himself. 
He taught school in Kentucky and then came overland on horseback to Iowa in 
1847. ci-ossing the Cedar river near the lower bridge. He was assisted by W. W. 
and M. A. Higley. two young men who later became his friends and fellow workers 
in the upbuilding of Cedar Rapids. The gold fever of 1850 took the doctor away 
from his practice, and by August, 1850, he had arrived at the gold diggings. 
On the way he had made money, as he doctored a great many who were sick with 
fevers. He purchased two teams and did teaming from Sacramento to Shaw's 
Flats for about two years when he got tired and sold out, returning by way of 
Panama and New Orleans. He came back to Cedar Rapids, which city remained 
his home until his death. Dr. Mansfield was one of the best known and most 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS 163 

successful physicians of his day and generation. He invested in city real estate, 
in bank stock, and was stockhokU-r i!i insiiram-c coiniianics. His was a rugRcd, 
strong character. He early .saw tiic |)i)s.sil)ilitics of the city, and was one of the 
first to invest in its real estate. He erected brick l)uil(linKs in the heart of the 
city which are now owned by his children, and an.» very valuable. 

William Rogers, a native of Ohio, where he was bom in 1830, came to 
Linn county and settled in Rogers Grove in the early forties. Mr. Rogers was 
an enterprising man and was one of the first to erect a saw mill aiul to raft 
lumber down the river to Muscatine in order to find a market for it. In an age 
when straw sheds were common he went to work and erected one of the best and 
largest barns in the count^y^ In this bam he stacked his grain and threshed 
it by walking the horses over it. the wheat dropping through the floor to a floor 
below where it was cleaneil. Mr. Rogers died many years ago. one of the best 
known men in southi-rn Linn connty. His widow, Kli/abeth McXie. is still liv- 
ing, making her home with her .son. .lames M. Rogers, of Fairfax township. 

Chandler Jordan, born in 1820 in the state of Maine, came to Linn county 
in 1844. where he made his home until his death a short time ago. Mr. Jordan 
was a lifelong member of the Baptist church, which he supported and in which 
he was an active worker all his life. He was interested in the public .schools. 
and in public affairs in general. Jordan 's Grove is named in honor of this sturdy 
old pioneer. 

G. W. Mat.sell. for many years a resident of Buffalo township, where he 
owned .some 2. ()()() acres of land which he i)urcha.se<l at an early day. was a well 
known character in New York city in the old days of Tammany Hall. He was 
chief of i)olicc and a prominent politician for many j'cars till the breaking up 
of the party with which he was closely a.s.sociated. Then he came here where his 
family still resides. Mr. .Matsell of course spent much time in New York, where 
he had financial interests, but he liked the west and en.joyed the summers in 
Iowa. He was a democrat of the old school, but never entered into the game 
of politics after coming west, having had his fill of it in the .\'ew York political 
ring for many years. 

The Mat.sell home was a hospitable one and many were the people George 
Mat.sell entertained during his residence in Iowa. V^isitors came from all over 
the country-, for he was well known. Mr. .Matsell entertained royally and knew 
how to entertain. The history of New York city cannot be written without the 
mention of G. \V. Mat.sell, jxilice chief, a member of the ("onnnittce of Seventy, 
and a well known character for nuiny years during the stormy days of the Civil 
war. His .son still resides on the old homestead. 

Robert Safely was a native of Scotland. He emigrated to. New York at the 
age of fourteen. He saw the first engine to run with steam in the state of New 
York. For numy years Mr. .Safely was master mechanic for the old B.. ('. R. & 
N. system, and was a familiar figure on the streets of Odar R;ii)ids up to the 
time of his death, a short time ago. Mr. Safely was an expert mechanic and up 
to the time of his death was interested in cverj'thing pertaining to mechanical 
science. 

Many of our earlier citizens only remained here for a shorter or longer time 
and left for other parts where they later attained to pnmiinence. Who does not 
remember W. II. Ingham, one of Kossuth county's pioneers, who live<l in this 
county in 18.")(l and for five years was engeged in surveying and bx-ating laiuls 
for early .settlers? Judge Thomas Burke, a noteti character of .Seattle and now 
wealthy, tried his luck at the law here waiting fur clients who never came. When 
Mr. Burke was picked up by J. J. Hill on the coast then every one wanted this 
once briefless barrisU'r as his legal adviser. Bishop C C. Met'abe lived here for 
a number of years, and no one had any idea that the rolicky, fun-making, joking 
young beardles.s lad in the employ of Judge (rreene and others would develop 



164 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

into a gi-eat lecturer and a Methodist bishop. Dr. J. T. Headley. of lecture 
fame, practiced medicine here in the late sixties, and was a quiet, una.ssuming 
man, who minded his own business and devoted days and nights to books and 
science. Here lived for some years the eloquent divine. Rev. Fawcett, a person 
of great eloquence and force of character who left Cedar Rapids better for 
having lived in it. One cannot forget Rev. Elias Skinner, now living in Water- 
loo, also a Methodist minister of force and eloquence who at various times lived 
in Linn county. Rev. Skinner, despite his eighty-three years, is well and hearty 
and can relate many things which occurred in this county in the fifties and 
sixties. He writes as follows : 

"I think Linn county is about the veiy best county in Iowa. Five different 
times I had my home in old Linn. I never did anything worthy of special men- 
tion at either time. In eaeh of the four places where I lived I blundered into 
doing things which I would rather not have recalled. So please excuse me. I 
write with pencil because I can 't guide a pen. 

"Yours, E. Skinner." 

COL. DURHAM TO THE OLD SETTLERS - ADDRESS BEFORE ASSOCIATION. 

AUGUST 1902 

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Old Settlers' Society : In calling this assemblage 
to order I wish to say to you all, to the new-comers, the strangers who honor us 
with their presence, that, in the name of our society, we bid you a most heartj^ 
welcome and say as a good hostess would, come again. 

Many of you I knew in territorial times, when we were seeking and establish- 
ing new homes, in the far new country beyond the Mississippi, and aiding in our 
humble way to lay the foundation of the present famous commonwealth of Iowa. 
The first settlements were made along and near the iMississippi river. There 
were but two counties, Dubucpie and Des ^loines. and the coimtr>' was called the 
Black Hawk Purchase. The purchase negotiated with the Sac and Fox Indians, 
by General Scott and Governor Reynolds, at the close of the Black Hawk war, 
consisted of a strip averaging about fifty miles wide, beginning in the north- 
eastern part of the state and nmning to the north boundary of Missouri, though 
not on a straight line, at a point fifty miles west of the river. It was under the 
.jurisdiction of the territory of Michigan, and was represented in congress, as a 
territorial delegate, by George Wallace Jones. 

In 1837 a few townships in the northwestern part of this county were surveyed 
by a surveyor general deputy named Haight. And soon thereafter Edward 
Crow and a few other adventurers came. Their only roads were fragments of 
Indian trails. They were delighted with the country and the smooth, polished 
surface of the unbroken prairie in all the grandeur and sublimity of its primeval 
state. Sages have sung of the charms seen in the face of such solitudes and I 
would say that I never felt nearer the great Creator and Ruler of the universe 
than when in regions before untrod by civilized man, where the forces of nature 
reigned supreme, and no sounds broke the silence except the hoo-hooing of owls, 
the drumming of pheasants, the bugle notes of the swan, the quacking of smaller 
fowls, the barking of prairie wolves, and in a timbered country, the hungry, deso- 
late howl of the large wolf, and sometimes, though seldom, the piteous wail of the 
panther. It's no wonder thot Moses retired to the top of a distant mountain 
with the roar of thunder and the flashes of lightning beneath him to talk with God. 

In 1838 another strip of country was acquired from the Indians, embracing 
the remainder of Linn county. Pos.session was given in 1839, when a continuous 
immigration commenced, which dates back to the coming of many of the families 
represented here today, our respected secretarj' among them, and not long after 




COURT HOUSE, MARION 




WaPSIK river AM) MILL 
Built in the '50s at Central City 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS 165 

that our treasurer. Previous to its or^nization in 1839, Linn county was, with 
Jones county, attached for judicial, revenue, and election ])urpo.ses to Jackson 
c'oimty. In 18.':(8 the territory of Iowa was struck otT from Wisi-onsin. Robert 
Lucaa was appointed governor hy President Van Buren, and William Wallace 
Chapmjui was elected first delegate to con^Tcss. with both of whom I was ac- 
quainted in the constitutional convention in 1844. Governor Lucas was a Vir- 
ginian by birth. tliou<rh raised in Ohio, where he had served as governor. lie was 
one of luiture's noblemen, not for |>omposity and line e(|uipage, but for all the 
trait.s that make u]> true iiiaidiood — modesty, courage, honesty, integrity, pat- 
riotism, and morality. 

Soon after the organization of tlie territoiy the Missouri war began. This 
relat«'d to the boundary line between the two states. It lasted some time, Imt 
like the Ohio and Michit;an war. was bloodless, though a good deal of patriotism 
and red tape and inilitarj- titles were shed. The trouble was finally settled by 
the surveyors and the courts. 

In 1839 Linn county was organized. The tii-st otiiccrs were John C. Berrj', 
commissioner's clerk or auditor; Hosea W. Gray, sheriff; Dr. Tryon, clerk of the 
court ; Luman W. Strong, Samuel C Stewart, and Peter McRoberts, county eom- 
mi.ssioners. S(|uire Strong was a potential factor in all Linn county affairs. 
Mr. Stewart was distinguished for his piety. His wife was a sister of those sturdy 
pioneers, the Scott brothers. In 1840 the territoiy contained 43.000 inhabitants; 
Augustus C. Dodge was elected delegate to congress, and GtH)rge Grt>ene a member 
of the territ4)rial coimeil, or senate, to represent Cedar, Linn, and Jones counties. 
In 1841 the remainder of Linn county was surveyed by the United States depu- 
ties, with all of whom I was ac(|uainted and in their camps — but chiefly with 
Mr. Wei den. 

After the.se surveys were made, claim-making and improving and trading 
bi-eamc Very lively, and the ratio of immigration increa.sed all the time. There 
was more disturbance and trouble and fighting about claims than from all other 
causes put together. I will give only a few instances of the many with which 
I am accpiainted. A man by the name of Woleott. near Mount Vernon, had his 
claim entered. He reported it to the claim as.stx'iation. They sent a committee 
of three men to the intruder aiul demanded that he should release and cancel his 
pun'hase, which hi' refused to d<». \\lien'upon they i)riK-ured a conveyance and 
told him that he must go to Dubuipie with them. Knowing the settler's law was 
against him. he nuide no further resistaiu-e. but went l)efore the register and 
receiver, cancelled his entry, and his money was returned to him. The matter 
came up shortly after that before the grand jury at Marion on the charge of 
ci>en-ion anrl kidnaping. Samuel Hunter. Sr., of Hunter's Cross Roads, was one 
of the jur\', Joseph Williams was judge. P. W. Karle, clerk, and Nathan Peddy- 
cord. of YHukee (Jrove, was another juryman, and 1 was foriMnan. William Abbe 
and Sipiin- Wain of Mount Vernon were witnes,s<>s. Robert Smith was secretary 
of the claim a.ssiM'iation and Oliver Day or Allison Willits i)resident. No bill was 
found and the matter stopped an<l never reached the supreme court. 

Another claim case originated in the Dr>- Creek coiuitry, and came to a climax 
in a rather exciting way. There were a number of us att<^nding an Indian 
banr|uet and pow-wow at a ()lacc called Wick-i-uji Hollow, near the Cedar river, 
two or thn'c null's south of the Oliphant and .\shliK-k nei^'bhorhood. The rcgidar 
guests were seated in a semi-circle in the \nck-i-up; we were only callers. The 
exercises consisted of short talks, chants and ehonises. each keeping time with 
a deer's bladder dried and filled with air and sonu> buck.shot in it to make it 
rattle, all accompanied with the music of a sort of home made fife. The ban- 
quet or dinner to follow was being ciK)ked by the women. It consisted, as far 
as I could see. of dried veni.son, stewed dou meat. Ix^ans, and pancakes. Before 
the dinner was ready some of our party went outside and renewed a quarri'l that 



166 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

had been pending for some time about their ehiims. Pretty soon the lie was 
passed, and it was immediately followed by a blow, and directly live or six were 
in the fight all at once. The struggle and angrj' shouts of the combatants 
frightened some of the Indian women who were near and they ran screaming 
away. Tliis broke up the exercise in the wick-i-up and the braves rushed out, 
thinking tliat their women were being misused, for a l)rave man will always 
resent an insult to his wife. The fight so disrupted everything that we left with- 
out waiting for dinner, especially as some had to withdraw for repairs. The 
Chambers were in it. William Garrison and some of the Nations were in it, but 
not Carrie \dth her little hat^'het. John Hunter and, I think, Dyer Usher, were 
there, but not in the tight. The case came up before his honor, Aaron ILsher, a 
ju.stiee of the peace, who fined some of the participants $1.00 each, which ended 
the litigation and the claim dispute. 

The last claim case I will mention was of much greater magnitude, and out of 
it originated the Bill Johnson war, in which several lives were lost, including one 
Indian. It began in Buchanan coimty. William Bennett and a man purport- 
ing to be Bill Johnson of the Canadian patriot war were the principles in the 
extensive trouble. Bennett was an enterprising, public-spirited man and had a 
quantity of workmen and retainers helping build tlie first grist mill at Quas- 
queton, on the Wapsipinicon river. He was a man of sturdy nuisciUar frame, 
swarthy complexion, dark eyes, strong jaws, a man who would be a good friend 
or a' bad enemy. Johnson was older, tall and angiilar, with black bushy hair, on 
whose lips .shone no smile, under whose brow lurked treason, stratagem, and spoil. 
I became aciiuainted with Johnson in a rather romantic way, which you will 
excu.se me for relating, as it shows some of the perils and hardships incident to 
the settling of a new country. On the 12th of November, 1842, a deep snow fell 
and remained till the next April, with additions during the winter. It has always 
since been called the hard winter of 1842 and '43. 

During the winter my friend, Anderson Chambers, later a prosperous business 
man of Muscatine, and I had been up in the coimtry between the Wapsipinicon 
and the Volga. The snow drifts were so deep and the day so dark that night 
overtook us several hours ride from any human habitation. Before dark we went 
into a little scattering timber on a small stream and under the lilutf hitched our 
hoi-ses to a bush. We found some dry poles and got some drv rotten wood out 
of a tree, scraped away the snow with our feet, and with the aid of a Hint and some 
tow and powder, we managed to start a little fire. Matches were not then in 
use. We cut some brush and laid it on the ground, spread one horse blanket 
on that to lie on, and with another to cover us and our saddles for pillows, we 
slept through the long night until daylight, when we resumed our ride. About 
the middle of the forenoon we came in sight of an improvement in the edge of 
the timber, and I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curled that a frontiers- 
man 's log cabin was there. We went into the house, which was neat and clean, 
and told them of our hard experience during the preceding night and day. They 
kindly sympathized with us and soon made us comfortable. It proved to be 
Bill Johnson 's place. Kate Johnson and another young lady. Miss Kelso of Dav- 
enport, were there. They busied themselves about setting us up a fresh, warm, 
ten o'clock breakfast. I relished it more than any other breakfast 1 ever ate, the 
zest of which was no doubt heightened by being served by .so charming a hostess, 
and me a susceptible bachelor, too. 

Johnson explained his being there in this wild region by saying that he had 
participated actively in the Canadian patriot war against the Dominion of Can- 
ada, that the attempted revolution had failed, that he had lost all his property by 
it, and had been driven and chased all through and among the Thousand Islands 
of the St. Lawrence river in his boat with his daughter Kate, that a reward had 
been offered for him, that he had given up all hope of success and determined 



SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS IC? 

to seek safety and qiiietude by coining to this country. All tlli^ seemed plaus- 
ible, as I iicard tlic brave deeds of the |)Htri()ts reheai-sed in sonp and poetrj'. 
But in eseapiiif; that trouble he ran into the jaws of tinother at the outset. It 
seemed that in comint; into a stninpe ni'i;rhln>riuii)d, instead of maUin<r the |)e<iple 
his friends by conciliation and prudent conduct, be trot into trouble at the start 
by taking possession of the claim of one of the Bennett party. They rcmonsirated 
and lie promised to pay fiu* the claim, but never did. tluiugh Johnson claimed 
that the tri>\ible was ai)out the location of the county seat. Not lonjj after I was 
at his place, after giving him notice, they determined to oust iiim. They took 
him out in the l>rush and tjave him a very severe tioKj;iiip, loaded him antl all his 
belont;ings into sleds anil sent him out of the country. He applied for aid at 
Marion and l)ubu(iue, and Surveyor General Wilson, a Xew Hampshire man, took 
him and his daughter Kate to Iowa City, in his fine Boston made sleigh, to inter- 
est (lovcriuir Chambers in his liehalf. When the hostilities camo to an end. the 
result was disastrous to l»oth parties. Bennett became a fugitive and his mill 
building was stopped. Johnson was shot. Kate fouiul her a loving, trusting 
husband. Hosea (Jray made considerable money out of it; Ornuis Clark, the first 
pernuuu'iit settler of Central City, spent a lot of money for defense, and Colonel 
I'reston laid the fouiulation of his splendid fame and fortune as a uattoruey from 
it. 

The public land sales had been advertised for this winter and the people were 
illy prepared to go to I)ubu((Ui' to enter their claims on account of the deep snow, 
some for scarcity of clothing, and all for scarcity of incmey. Many had saved 
their last 12|o and (J'-; cent silver coins ami their 5- franc pieces to nuike up the 
neees.sary sums. In view of the ditticulties in the waj', a mass meeting was held, 
and George Greene was appointed a special agent to go to Washington City for 
the purpose of having the land ot^ice removed to Marion. He went and saw the 
commissioiuT of public lands; he saw Stephen A. Douglas, chairman of the 
committee on public lands, and President Tyler, and came back with an order 
for the temporary removal in his pocket, which I doubt if any other man could 
have done. He stood luminous among all the bright nu'n who first settled in 
Linn county, or the territory either. The people of Linn comity, and of Cedar 
Rapids especially, .should ever remember his labors and efforts in those early days 
which brought them prominence and prosperity. All now acknowledge Linn 
county to be without a peer ami Ce<lar Rapids is tlie best interior city in the 
state, except Des Moines with it.s innnen.se coal beds. 

The land office was located in the first, and then only brick house in Marion. 
Judge Iierr>- afterwards dispensinl boimdiess hospitality in it. It was l)uilt and 
owned by William H. Woodhridge. or " Democ W%xidbridge." a verj- enterprising 
young man. He was one of five from this coiuity who enlisted in the Mexican 
war. He was with S<'ott's army of invasion and the Mexicans "welconunl him 
with bloody hands to a hospitable grave." Another of the five. Major McKean. 
as he was then known, who was a member of the first constitutional convention 
in 1844. and later a brigadier general in the union army, lies buried in the 
Marion cemetery. Another of the five. Captain Sausman, who gallantly bore 
the flag at Chepultepec, died in California. Captain Cray is alone, and alive and 
likely to be. as you would think if you could see him running an intricate surveyor's 
line through a .s«x'tion. The fifth one. Samuel D. Thompson, is with us amply 
provided tor in his declining years by a nuinificent govenimcnt. in recognition 
of liis military s<>r\icc in nearly all the wars since the time of Anthony Wayne, 
and as the old song .says: 

' ' There is n<i more work for brave old Joe. 

He's gone to the place where all good soldiers go." 



168 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The land sales drew large numbers from all the surrounding countrj\ and 
made lively times here. Joseph F. Chapman and Oliver S. Hall, Sr., hotel 
keepers, flourished. Those who had the money got titles to their lands, and 
those who had not still held their claims until such time as they could enter them 
at private .sale. In the spring the land office was moved back to Dubuque. 

In 1844 the tirst constitutional convention was held at Iowa City. The consti- 
tution failed of ratification. In 1846 another convention was held and the state 
fully admitted under that with our present boundaries. Iowa was then the 
most western state, and a line drawn south from Sioux City, its western limit, 
would have run further west than any other state or territorj-, except Texas, 
which was annexed the year before. It now occupies a conspicuous central po- 
sition in the American imion, and a leading one in agricultural productions. 
It is honored with two members of the president's cabinet and the most influential 
member of the American senate. 

After our acquisition of California the waves of emigration westward began, 
sweeping over the great American desert, as it had been, called. i)lanting agri- 
culture and industry in its path, forcing its way through the mountain passes 
and over the sim-dried plains, to the Pacific ocean at the Golden Gate, where 
floats the commerce of oriental Asia. 

"No pent up Utiea contracts our powers; 
The whole of this boundless domain is ours. ' ' 

When I look in the faces of this multitude I see before me but few who were 
men and women grown when I first came here. Some of you gray-haired ladies 
and gentlemen were then, as the Indians called them, petite squaws or skinneways. 
Your fathers were Niseshin Shomoko men. But I think scarcely more than a 
dozen are now living in this county who were then men and women. And 

' ' I feel like one who treads alone 

A banquet hall deserted, 
Whose music is hushed, whose guests are gone, 

And all but me departed." 




ISAAC BUTLKR 
Pioneer Resident of Springville 



CHAPTER XX 

Early Linn County Lawyers and Courts 

BV JUDGE MILO P. SMITH 

Fifty yoai-s ago tliii judiciary of this county, as well as of tlic entire country, 
was quite different from wliat it now is. There were hut two terms of court in 
a county, ami Linn heing a large county, terms here lasted about two or three 
weeks. In the smaller counties, one week or le.ss was sufficient for the tran.saetion 
of all the business. The grand jury was composed of fifteen men in.stead of five 
or seven, as at pre-sent. and twelve out of the fifteen had to concur in order to 
find a bill of indictment. At present the concurrence of a le.ss number than the 
whole is sufficient. The merafiers of the grand jury selwted their own clerk from 
their own uumtx'r. They had no authority t^) act on the minutes of the examining 
magistrate, but it was obligatory on them to have the witnes.ses before thenij and 
to examine them personally. 

There was no official shorthand reporter to take down the evidence on the trial 
of cases in court. If the attorneys desired to iierpetuate the testimony, or any 
part of it, they either wrote it down in lon;^ hand themselves, or selected some out- 
side person to do it; generally some young lawyer. And sometimes the judge 
would make the only minutes of the trial that were kept. From these imperfect 
notes, however taken, the judge was reijuired to determine what should go to the 
supreme court when he came to settle the bill of exceptions: no ca.sy task. When 
court opened on the first day of the term — which was done with great out- 
cry — the judge at once empaneled the grand jur>-. and then proceeded to make 
what was called a "preliminary" call of the calendar, at which cases that were 
not for trial were dismissed, continued, marked settled, or otherwise dispo.sed of. 
When that call was completed, he then made the " peremptor>' " call, and all 
ea.ses that were for trial were then disposed of as they were reached. There was 
no assignment of ea.ses for trial as now practiced, but the lawyers had to be ready 
in each case when reached. 

Court week was generally regarded liy the people as a sort of a pic-nie or 
holiday, and they came in from the country for several Tniles around to hear the 
lawyers spar with each other, and catch the "rulings of the court." The court 
room was generally pac-ked with listeners. Then [)olifi('al mei-fings were generally 
held during that week when everybody was there and lawyers ready to do the 
speaking; and they furnished fine entertainments indeed. 

The bar of Linn county in the early fifties was an unusually strong one. said 
by some to be the strongest in the state. There were Judge N. W. Isbell. Judge 
Isaac Cook, Judge Oeorge Oreene. Judge William Smyth, and Col. I. M. Preston. 
.\ little in the rear of the above worthies were X. M, Hubbard. R. D. Stephens. 
Wm. G. Thompson. J. H. Yoimg. Thomas Corbett. and J. W. Dudley. Except 
Judge Greene and J. W. Dudley, all i>f these persons lived in Marion. 

N. W. Isbell. the first i-ounty j)ulge in this county, was s<'b>cted by the legis- 
lature in IS;"):'! as a meml)er of the supreme court, and filled the position with 
honor and credit to himself and the state for several years, and was afterwards 
appointed judge of the district court during the Civil war. but resigned 
both positions on aceomit of ill health. He was a very learned miui and 
a profound lawyer. lie greatly enjoyed the investigation of legal (piestions. 



170 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

possessed an acute and analytical mind, and one richly stored with the results 
of historical and general reading. In the practice he was not partial to jury 
trials, much preferring the presentation of legal questions to the court. He had 
quite an aptitude for affairs, and became successful as an enterprising railroad 
builder, projecting the old "Air Line" Railroad, the pioneer of the present route 
of the C., M. & St. P. Railway across the state. He left a comfortable estate to 
his family, dying about the year 186.5. He was of small stature and insignificant 
in appearance, but with a large head, though small features. Indeed he verj' 
much resembled the Hon. Wm. H. Seward in face, head, and stature. He was 
rather of an irascible temperament and consequently easily thrown off his bal- 
ance — • but no member of the bar was more highly respected than was Judge 
Isbell for uprightness, honesty of purpose, general intelligence, deep reading in 
general literature as well as in the law ; and his blameless life made hiin a beloved 
citizen. 

I omit further mention of Judge Greene as there is elsewhere in this work a 
lengthy sketch of him. 

Isaac Cook was born and raised in tastern Pennsylvania and became the 
possessor of a sound education as a basis for the legal studies he afterward pur- 
sued. He served quite a while on the district bench, and was there noted for 
the care, time, and fairness he devoted to the cases he was called on to hear and 
decide. His mind was not so quick or rapid in its movements as .some others, 
but it was very accurate in its conclusions. He was a fine chancery and corpor- 
ation lawyer, and no better pleader ever drew a petition than Judge Cook. He 
was for many years toward the close of his life general coun.sel for the predecessors 
of the C. & N. W. Railway Company and the Iowa Railroad Land Company in 
the state of Iowa. Though he had an office first in ^Marion and then in Cedar 
Rapids, he always lived on his farm just south of the former place, in a plain, 
comfortable brick house. He was a broad shouldered, stock-built man of a dark 
complexion, and chewed an immense quantity of tobacco. He had, we believe, 
more practice in the supreme court of the United States than any other lawyer in 
Iowa in his day. 

William Smyth, first county attorney of Linn county, was appointed judge 
of the district court to succeed Judge J. P. Carleton about the year 1854. when 
he was but thirty years of age. He was regarded as an ideal judge. He was of 
Scotch-Irish descent, and had received a thorough education when young. His 
education was perhaps more thorough than broad, owing no doubt to his early 
surroundings. His legal lore was as near exact and profound as was possible, 
and covered completely the whole circle of legal learning. One who knew him well 
said, that in commercial law, the law of real estate, and in pleading, he had no 
superiors and but few equals in the state. He was a trial lawyer in the fullest 
sense of that term. Careful in the preparation of his cases, methodical in the 
introduction of his testimony; and in his presentation of his client's cause to a 
jury, his arguments were close and convincing, logical if not eloquent. He was, 
perhaps, after his retirement from the district bench, generally regarded as the 
head of the bar of the county. His knowledge of the affairs of the nation, and 
the principles of our government was most exact and comprehensive. For wealth 
of general information, profundity of legal learning, and urbanity of manner 
and dignity of deportment, he was not surpassed by any man in the state. Indeed 
he was early recognized as one of the leaders in affairs as well as of the bar of the 
state. He and the firm of which he was a member had the largest practice and 
the best clientage in the county. His practice extended to many of the neighbor- 
ing counties, such as Benton, Tama, and Iowa, when^ he had local partners, and 
where he attended the terms of court. He was a valuable member of the com- 
mittee that revised the laws of the state as embodied in the Revision of 1860. 
He was offered a place on the supreme court bench but declined it. He was a 



EARLY LINN COUNTY LAWYERS AND COURTS 171 

delegate to the Roi)ublii'an Xational Convention at Chieago in 1860 — having 
been a deincK-rat before the slavery (juesti m gave rise to the republican i)arty, he 
naturally sided with Governor Chase, whose politieal path led in the siiine diree- 
tion as his own. and gave that statesman his earnest and persistent support in 
the convention, voting for him to the last as his ehoiee for president, lie was a 
formidable eompetitor of Governor James W. (Jrime.s when the latter was elected 
to the I'nited States senate in 1858. In 1868 he was elected to congress from 
this district and died while such member in 1870. at the early age of forty-si.\. 
Of all that goes to make up a first rate man and citizen — intelligence, ability, 
industry, perseverance, honesty, and morality, he was in full possession, and en- 
joyed the confidence of the people to a greater degree than any other <'iti/en in the 
county. He was patriotic and brave and served during the war of the rebellion 
as colonel of an Iowa regiment, and while so serving, he contracted the disease 
that caused his early death. He was the fortunate pos.sessor of a splendid frame, 
being nearly six feet in height, and had a large, well formed head — his carriage 
erect and movements stately and deliberate. He wa.s a model christian gentleman, 
courtly and polite, with a winning i)ersonality. He too was a man of affairs and 
left a comfortable estate to his family. 

Colonel 1. yi. Preston. i)orn in 1813. was in many respects a remarkable man. 
Thrown on his own resources when quite young, he learned the trade of carpenter 
and .joiner, but read law while working at his trade, was admitted when al)out 
thirty years of age. came to Marion. o|)ened an office, and at once took a position 
in the fnmt rank of trial lawyers. He was particularly successful as a criminal 
lawyer. He jHisscssed a very ipiick. subtle, and keen mind, and was remarkably 
resourceful in expedients in the trial of cases. Some lawyers were better pleaders 
others more learned in the law. but none more apt in furnishing the facts to fit 
the case, and but few, if any. excelled him in marshalling those facts in his pre- 
sentation to the .jur>\ In time he acipiiied great fame throughout the state as 
a lawyer and public speaker. He was early api)ointed district attorney for the 
district in which he lived, and in 1846 was commissioned by Governor Clark 
colonel of an Iowa regiment of militia. He also .served as county .iudge of Linn 
county, and at different times served in both branches of the legislature. He was 
the father of Judge J. II. Preston and E. C. Preston, both members of the bar, 
and residents of the city of Cedar Rapids. 

X. M. Hubbard, later known as Judce Hubbard, was certainly the most bril- 
liant and noted lawyer that ever lived in or graced the bar of this county. He 
was appointed in 1865 .judge of the district court, and served till January 1. 
1867. With a mind keen, bright and luminous, a sound understanding, a rich 
store of observation, an unparalleled command of language, a readiness in repartee, 
and unlimited power of invective, he was unsurpa.ssed by any man in the state, 
and by but few in the nation. He was for thirty years general attorney for the 
C. & X. W. Railway Com|)any in Iowa, and upon his death left a trenerous estate. 

Hubbard's early parfni-r. R. 1). Stephens, while a gooil lawyer, wa.s certainly 
a past master in finance. an(l was iietter known as a banker than lawyer. He 
established the First .Xational Hann at .Marion, and the .Merchant.s Xational Hank 
in Cedar Rapids. He died several years ago. quite wealthy. Both Hubbard and 
Stephens came to Linn county from the state of Xew York in 1854. In the polit- 
ical i-ampaign of 1856, Hubbard edited the Linn Count;/ Rcgiilrr, predecessor 
t4> the Marion Hrqister. 

Ma.jor J. H. Young was probably the pos.ses.sor of the best education of any of 
the lawyers of his time, and was a well read lawyer, a sfronir advocate, careful 
and i)ainstaking. but unfortunately pos.ses,sed an irritableness and quickness of 
temper that was not calculated to advance the cau.se of his client in a law suit. 
He died when comparatively young, when on his way home from California where 
he had gone on account of his failing health. 



172 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY . 

W. G. Thompson, better ImovMi as Major Thompson or Judge Thompson, still 
resides here at the ripe old age of eighty-one. But few of the present generation 
know all there is about Judge Thompson. Bom and reared in the state of Penn- 
sylvania of Scotch parentage, with a fair academical education, admitted to the 
bar when a little past twenty-one, he came to Linn county in 1853, and at once 
leaped into prominence as a lawyer and politician. In quickness of mind, versa- 
tility in extremity, readiness of retort, fla.shings of wit, volubility of speech, 
touches of pathos, flights of eloquence, and geniality of disposition, and popular- 
ity with the masses, he had no superior in eastern Iowa, if he had an equal. It 
has been said of him that he could sit down to a trial table in a case of which 
he had never before heard, and trj' it just as well as though he had had months 
of preparation. He has been county attorney, state senator, presidential elector, 
major of the Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, district attorney, chief justice 
of Idaho, member of the legislature, member of congress, and judge of the district 
court. And in tilling all of these positions, he has served the people faithfully 
and well. And in private life and as a practitioner he has surely been "a man 
without a model and without a shadow." 

J. W. Dudley lived in Cedar Rapids as Thomas Corbett did in Marion. They 
were both careful, pains-taking, and judicious lawyers, not particularly noted in 
any special respect, but safe, soimd, and trustworthy. They have both been long 
since dead. 

J. J. Child and I. X. Whitt^im were also members of the bar in the early 
'50s. They both lived in Cedar Rapids. Judge Whittam was noted for his 
industry, care and patience in regard to any matter in which he became engaged. 
He did not claim to be a man of mark or a great lawjer, but certainly acquired 
and retained the confidence as an advisor of many of the best citizens in Cedar 
Rapids and vicinity. 

J. J. Child, long since dead, was .said by those who knew him best to be one 
of the best lawyers in the state. Though not an advocate, his learning in law was 
wide and deep, and no client ever made a mistake in following his advice. Unfor- 
tunately his habits of life seriously impeded the good results that could have 
flowed from such a prolific source. 

After these, came others to fill their places, but the most of them are here now, 
and have received special reference and personal mention in these pages. 

The entire state in 1857 was divided into twelve judicial districts, with one 
judge in each district. Accompanying the act was the constitutional provision 
that new districts could not be created oftener than one new district in four years. 
Within about ten years the business in court became so congested that relief was 
necessary and was sought in all directions. Finally, in 1868. the legislature passed 
a circuit court bill, which by its terms d'vided every district into two circuits 
and provided a judge for each circuit. The circuit court had concurrent juris- 
diction with the district court in all cases at law and in equity, and sole jurisdic- 
tion in probate matters and in appeals from justices of the peace, but it did not 
have jurisdiction in criminal eases. The same legislature abolished the coimty 
court that formerly had jurisdiction of probate matters. In further defining the 
duties and powers of this court, the law created what was called a general term. 
to which all appeals from, and application for the correction of errors by the dis- 
trict and circuit courts would lie. The personnel of that court consisted of the 
judge of the district and the two circuit judges, and it sat twice a year. In 
this district one of the sessions was held in Marion and the other in Iowa City. 
The district comprised the counties of Jones, Cedar, Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, 
and Tama. The first three counties constituted one circuit, and the latter four 
the other one. The limitation of the right to appeal when the amount in con- 
troversy was less than one hundred dollais was then passed. An appeal finally 
lay from the decision to the general term of the supreme court. When a case was 




PUBLIC SCHOOL AT SI'KINCVILLE 



EAKT-V MXX COUNTY LAWYKRS AND COURTS 17:! 

decided at the peneral term, the judge to whom it was referred for a decision 
wTote out the deeision in an opinion as the supreme court judges do. l)ut tlie 
opinions wore not reported in the bvuiks. 

The next legislature materially changed the law. It aliolished the general 
term and consolidated the two circuits, cutting out one of the judges — each court 
retaining the jurisdiction it had — and provided for appeals directly to the su- 
preme court. 

Then in 1SS6, the constitution of the state was radically changed by a vote 
of the people so that the limitati<m on the number of judicial districts and num- 
ber of judges was removeil. The circuit coiirt was abolished, the office of district 
attorney was abolished, and that of coimty attorney created. There was a pros- 
ecuting attorney for each district before. The legislature then ereat<?d as many 
districts as was thought necessary, and as many judges to a district as were 
deemed sufficient to transact the business. This law is still in force. This 
became the new eighteenth judicial district, composed of the counties of Linn, 
Cedar, and Jones, with three judges. 

The first di.strict judge for Linn county after the adoption of the new consti- 
tution in 1857, was Hon. William E. Miller, of Iowa City, and Isaac L. Allen, of 
Toledo, was elected district attorney — this in 1858. Allen was afterwards at- 
torney general of the state. 

Judge Miller was well equipped for the position. With a thorough common 
school education, and having been a practical machinist when young, and with 
strong common .sense, he had a naturally good judicial mind that had been im- 
proved by careful study and years of practice in the law. lie came to the bench 
an intelligent, fair, and courteous judge, lie resigned in 18()2 and entered the 
I'nion anuy as colonel of the Twentv-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He after- 
wards st>rved as circuit judge and finally as supreme judge of the stat<'. From 
the resignation of Judge Miller till January 1. 1867, the district bench was graced 
in its occupancy by Judge N. W. Isbell, C. II. Conklin, and N. M. Hubbard. 

Judge Miller was a broad-.shouldered, short, squatty fellow, and though a 
good lawyer and jurist, he was an indiflFerent advocate, and not particularly 
strong as a trial lawyer. 

Judge Conklin was probably the most scholarly, accomplished and profound 
lawj-er that ever sat on the district bench in this part of the state. His home was 
in Vinton, and while he lived among the people there he did not seem to be of 
them. He was a strong, tall, raw-boned man, always carefull.v dres.sed, with a 
most marked intellectual face, and he was certainly one of the most el(»|iient 
advm'ates that ever stood before a jury in eastern Iowa. 

Judge James H. Rothroek, of Tipton, was elected judge in ISCifj, and .served 
on the district bench till in February. 187H, when he was, by the governor, ap- 
pointed to a seat on the supreme bench, which position he filled for over twenty 
years, when he voluntarily declined a further renomination. He. too. entered 
the Tnion army in ISU'i a.s lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantrj-. and served with credit till sickness compelled him to resign and come 
home. Judge Rotliro(;k wa.s not a learned man in the sense of having a college 
education or having pos.se.ssed an extensive breadth of general reatling in history 
or science, nor was he fiuent of speech, or particularly adroit as a practitioner, 
but he possessed naturally good judgment, a most thorough common English 
education, a good knowledge of the law and it.s basic principles, a sound under- 
standing, with an innate sense of justice. He was patient and even tempered, 
dignified, and kind. He made a splendid ni.ii prinx judge. His opinions were 
always plain, couched in good strong Anglo-Saxon, terse and sound, and will 
long bear the close and sharp criticism of posterity. WTienever he announced 
a principle of law. it was accepted without dispute as the law on the point in- 



174 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

volved. Judge Rothroek was a large man of fine physique, impressible presence, 
and very genial when off the bench. 

The Hon. John Shane, of Vinton, succeeded Judge Rothroek on the bench of 
this district in 1876 and served till 1882, when he resigned on account of ill 
health. He possessed a much better education than did Judge Rothroek, and the 
scope of his general reading wa.s not only broad, but judiciously directed. He loved 
the law for the very sake of it and never tired of investigating its ofttiraes hidden 
mysteries. He was well liked as a judge, was convivial and sociable to a degree. 

The judges who have filled the position on the district bench since Judge 
Shane's retirement are many and able, but can scarcely be said to belong to the 
olden time. 

Of the few circuit judges that held court in this county, we can say that they 
graced the position they filled with ease, but they belong rather to the present 
time than to tlie past age. But Judges Yates. McKean, and Hedges will long be 
remembered by the older inhabitants as capable, learned, and upright judges. 

In the palmy days of the lawyers and judges described, the law libraries were 
meagre and the books few. There are probably now a dozen law libraries in the 
county, any one of which contains more hooks than were in the county in 1860, 
and there are some that contain twice or three times as many. The practicing 
attorney was then thrown more upon his own resources, and compelled to depend 
more on his own power of analysis and discrimination than at the present time, 
which doubtless made them stronger, more self-reliant, and resourceful. And 
the judges were called upon to decide rather how the law should be than how it 
had been pronounced to be by some other tribunal, which was no doubt strength- 
ening t« them. 



CHAPTER XXI 

Cluitty yiiution 0/ litiuli tind Bar 

Tlic liistory of any community is not complete without a sketch of tlie mcm- 
hera of th>' har, for in tlie Temple of Justice eveiy phase of human life is seen. 
"Here one heai-s the cry for veniieance and also the kind pleadiufis for mercy." 
The memhcrs of the har. especially in the early day, understood puhlic opinion 
and iliscovcred what men truly were and not what they were rejjuted to he. At 
this early ilay the lawyers were the trihunes of the people. They were men of 
hrilliant intellect and of intense i)assions, and in trials which created universal 
interest in the sparsely settled community thej- swayed the minds and hearts of 
their hearers in a remarkahle defjree. It was an age of oratory, and Linn coun- 
ty in that day had its (piota of hrilliant intellects who remained here for a 
shorter or lonjfer ])eriod of time and in no small degree assisted in the uphuild- 
ing of the county aiul the state. 

In order to make this sketch as hrief as possible, and in an endeavor to ])ic- 
ture the men as the.y were, we shall attempt to jrive a little of the humorous side 
of their characters and follow in the footsteps of Channinf; who said "anec- 
dotes are worth pages of biographies." 

Many of the early members of the bar were men of education and refinement, 
po.ssessing a snapi)y humor that set courts and juries roaring. Many a long 
day's trial was brightened hy some sally of native wit fresh from the frontier. 
These men were active in politics, were promoters of steamboat lines, stage 
companies, and paper I'ailroads. who, in course of time, became legislatures, 
judges, and tinanciers. They all labored for the upbuilding of tlie infant state, 
where they had invested all their surplus means, having faith in Iowa's future. 
In every w;iy [)ossit)le they tried to upbuild its infant industries. 

Linn county was set otl' by act of legislature in 1SH7. while Iowa was then a 
part i>f Wisconsin Territory. In August (Jovenier Lucas set off Johnson, Cedar, 
Jones an<l Linn counties in one legislative district. The attoi-neys from Linn 
county who appeared at Iowa City at the Jidy t4'nn. A. I).. 1847, were Isaac M. 
I'reston, John David and William Smythe, all of whom became noted lawyers 
before that body later. The judges on the bench at this time were three well 
known Iowa jurists: Williams, Wilson, and Kinney. 

The first court wius held at Maritm Octol)er 2tj, 1840. pn'sided over by Joseph 
Williams, wlio had been appointed to the judgeship Jul.v 2r>. 18;<8. At this terra 
of court, according to the rci-ords. there were present Distrii-t Attorney W. G. 
Woodward for the federal government. I{. I'. Lowe. prose<-uting attorney. II. W. 
(iray. sheritT. T. H. Tryoii, clerk, and L. .Mallor.v, nuirshal of the district. On the 
first grand jur.v sat Israel Mitchell, founder of Westport, who had been appointed 
probate judirc tm January- Iti of the previous .vear. The first justices in the 
county were: 11. H. Hurnap, John Q. C'ole. .loiin M. AflTerty. John Crow, William 
AIiIm', and Israel Mitchell. Some of the first county judges were : Norman Isbell. 
Dan Lothian. J. Elliott. A. H. Dumont. and J. M. Berry. 

Durint: these carl.v days there were two terms of court, one in January, and 
the other in June. The ca.ses brought involved small amounts, but for the numl)er 
of iidiabitMiits of the count.v there was a great deal more litigation then than now. 
Some of the early lawyers in Marifin and Cedar Rapids were : 1. M. I'reston. J. E. 
Sanford, N. W. Isbell. Isaac Cook. Ilenrv Harman, William Smyth. J. J. Child, 



17(5 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Joe B. Young, Dan Lothian, C. yi. IloUis, J. David. X. ^NI. Hubbard. K. D. Steph- 
ens, Tom Corbett, Geoi^e Greene. Israel Mitchell. D. 0. Finch, A. S. Belt, John 
Mitchell, G. A. Gray, and C. L. Jlurray. 

Among the attorneys in practice during the early '50s in Cedar Rapids were 
the following: Henrv Lehman. E. M. Bates, C. v! Touslev, J. J. Child. R. G. 
Welcher, D. .M. .Mcintosh. T. J. Dudley, Jr.. A. Sidney Belt, and Dan 0. Finch, 
the latter being also editor of the Progressive Era. In 1861 came J. Munger 
and N. R. Graham, and during the next year Edward Stark, who formed a part- 
nership with A. S. Belt. In 1862 came W. A. Dodge. During the early '60s 
George Greene and I. M. Preston were in partnership, Greene having an office 
in Cedar Rapids and Preston in Marion. Hubbard and Stephens were 5n 
partnership in Clarion in the early '60s, Stephens running the law business while 
Hubbard went to "the front." 

The attorneys locating here in the '50s and '60s were engaged in railway 
pi-omotion. in politics, and in booming towns, although they did not neglect 
banking and fire insurance. There were towTis which had two or three lawj'ers 
in the e^uiv day which have none now. which would indicate that litigation in 
the early days was more profitable than later. In conversation with a number 
of the old lawj'ers this has been told, that the land business was the best paying 
law business during the pioneer days. It is also stated that much of the liti- 
gation in the early days was to defend horse thieves and other criminals. How 
true this is the writer does not know. 

In the early days there was a class of people called ' ' Terrorists ' ' causing the 
settlers much annoyance and trouble. They were a band of looters who came 
along to scare people by reporting threatened Indian attacks, and when the 
settlers had fled to a place of safety others of the band came along and looted the 
abandoned houses. The "Copperhead" movement also extended into this 
county during the early period of the war, and more or less litigation grew out of 
this excitement 

Among some of the well known lawyers of the pioneer days of this county 
who have played a more or less prominent part at the bar. in politics, and other- 
wise, may be mentioned John David and J. E. Sanford, who came to Iowa in 
1840. They were both bright men and had :ui exceptionally large practice in 
land titles. Anj' examiner of abstracts in this county will find Sanford 's name 
frequently as holding much of this land, also that of H. W. Sanford, a relative. 
Tliomais Corbett came from the east in an early day. was one of the characters 
at Marion, and became a well known attorney, removing from Iowa in a short 
time on account of his health. He became a hero soon after he married a well known 
lady in Marion whose people were well to do. As Corbett had nothing but 
brains for assets, one of the brothers of the bride did not like this marriage and 
came to the house of a friend .just after the wedding with a party of young 
fellows to horsewhip the groom, who was not a very large man. but an active one. 
The groom was not at all backward about meeting his antagonist and gave him a 
thrashing to such an extent that he had no cause to forget it very soon, much to 
the enjoyment of the crowd who all took Corbett 's side. It was not long until 
Corbett displayed great ability as an attorney, and became financially successful 
as well. 

Norman W. Isbell locat<^'d in Clarion in 1842. being a native of Ohio. He 
served as county .iudge. in which position he rendered excellent service. In 
politics he was a whig, but when the slaverj' issue sent that neutral party out of 
existence. Judge Isbell became a republican. In 1854 he became a partner of 
N. il. Hubbard, whii-h partnership continued up to about 1860. with the exception 
of the time when he held office. In 1855 he was elected supreme .iudge of the 
state, resigning in 1856 on account of failing health. In September. 1862. upon 
the resignation of Judge William E. ^Miller. Governor Kirkwood appointed Judge 




METHODIST CHrHfll, SPRINC.VILLK 




UOMK OK .1. I-. HI TLKK. SI'KINON ll.l.K 



( IIA'I"I"N' MFATIOX OF ItKNCII AND I'.AU 177 

Ishell to till tliu vai'iiui-y ou the supivnu' hi'iu-h. lie was elected at the expira- 
tion of ttie term, but resigned in 18(i4, removing to California on aetount of 
illness, where he died of eoiisumptidii the following year at the age of forty-six. 
All the memi)ers of the liar priK-laim Judge Isliell one of the keenest lawyers who 
ever practiced in this county, at least in that day. His applications of lej;al 
princi|)les were ^ound and his illustrati(tns apt and catchy. He was not a great 
jury lawyer in the true sense of tiie word, and perhajjs not as well known among 
the ina.sses as many others, hut among the legal fraternity Judge Ishell was 
looked up to as a safe lawyer and most excellent .judge, who by hard stud,v had 
attained to high rank among the jurist.s of this state. His .son, X. (i. Ishell. 
practiceil a short time here, hut removed ti> Miihigan where he died many years 
ai:o, lieforc reaching middle age. 

Another lawyer of nuich aliility and universally ri-spected was Isaac t'ook, a 
native of Chester county, IV'iui.sylvania, who liKvited in Palmyra. .Mi.ssouri. in 
1844, and later praitieed law in Duhuipie, and also in Marion, removing to Cedar 
Rapids in 1>^4S. He was elected to the bench in 1857. Judge Cook was of a 
ipiiet turn of miiul. a man who never gave a sidewalk advice which he had to take 
back. He was elected the first citv attorney in Cedar Rapids in IH.IO. and was 
tendered a haiuiuet upon his resignation from the bench in lSo8. He was also 
the first president of a rcj)ul)lican club organized in Linn county. Judge Cook 
died in 1S7S, lu>nored and respected l)y all who knew him. 

John Mitchell came from Maine in 1853, entered Judge IsbcU's oflice. aiul was 
admitted to the bar in 18.")7. lie was later a [lartner of Judge Smyfhe and 
Judge Lothian. Mitchell died a few yeai-s ago, one of the oldest practitimu-rs in 
the county. 

R. D. Stephens was iiorn in New York in 182!). and came to Marion in 1855 
without means, but with a splendid training and with a lively interest for bixs- 
ine.ss. He entered the law ofHce of Ishell & Hubbard, later becoming a partner 
of Judge Hubbard. Mr. Stephens at an early date l)e<'ame interested in politics, 
and later became famoiis as a comnu'rcial lawyer and financier. He died in 
Cedar Raiiids as |)resident of the Men-hants .\ational Hank, ami was rated one 
of the wealthiest men in the oounty. His son, R. D. Stephens. Jr.. is now a prac- 
ticing attorney in Chicago. 

Joe B. Yiung was bom in 1832 in Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar 
at Iowa (Jitv in 1853. He located in Marion and was prosecuting attoniey in 
Linn comity, a nu-mber of the legisl.-iture. and later a member of the state senate, 
and for a time i>ension agi'Ut for the state of Iowa. J(k> Yoiuig was cross and 
crablied in the court, freciucntly opposed the .judge, as well as the opposing 
counsel, and displayi-d on many occasions bad temper, not to such an extent, how- 
ever, that he ever lost sight of his client's interest or his case. He was a 
stubborn legal tighter and was recognized as a great lawyer who lu'ver gave up 
until he had exhausted all his resources. He died in ISTti, one of the best known 
attorneys in eastern Iowa, universally acknowledged the greatest wit and the 
most san'astii- in retort of any nuui who practiced at the bar. He saw only one 
side of a ca.se and that was his side and he always maintained that, bai-ked up by 
proof, there was no other side. Even in church matters he differed with the 
majority, aiul organized a new church, paying for it himsi'lf, so as to have things 
his own way. He was a nuist signal man in his profession, always a student, 
and .seemed to know ever>'thing which would likely reveal where motives start 
and where the secret springs of <'onscienee were in a long drawn out law suit. 

I). M. Mcintosh was a native of South Caroliiui. and located in Cedar Rapids 
in the '4(ls. He was small of stature, with a ruddy faci> and long hair, making an 
imposing tiinire in the court room. He [)osscsse(l considendile legal ability, had 
many friends, aiui was one of the best known men in Cedar Rapids. He (lied in 
1850. mourned by a large circle of friends, who for years remembered how this 



178 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

brilliant sou of the south had on many occasions lighted up the dull path of the 
law with a glow of fancy and spiced his remarks by the charm of frontier 
oratory. 

Colonel J. JI. May was another attorney who was well known in Cedar Rapids, 
and who located here at an early date, and after him JIay's Island is named. 
He was erratic and wasted a large fortune in litigation with his relatives and 
neighbors over rights of various kinds. lie died in Cedar Rapids a short time ago. 

I. N. Whittam was another of the pioneer lawyers who died a few years ago, 
having located in Cedar Rapids in 1854. He as.sisted Judge Greene in getting 
out " Greene '.s Reports of Iowa." He wa.s in continuous practice up to the 
time of his death. 

Ellsworth N. Bates, coming to Linn coimty in the early fifties, was quickly 
known as the silver tongued orator of the Cedar Valley. He was the first city 
attorney, appointed in 1856, at $20.00 a year. He served till 1860. ilr. Bates 
won fame and honor as a lawyer and editor, and being a person of tact and force 
of character, he won many friends. His glowing tribute to the men who built 
the railway, at the June celebration in 1859. gave him prestige as a great orator. 
IMr. Bates liulisted in the Civil war and died from exposure a short time 
afterwards 

George Greene, who died in 1880 at the age of sixty-three, was one of the best 
known men in Iowa at the time of his death. Born in England, I\Ir. Greene 
educated himself in Buffalo, studying with George P. Baker. In 18.38 he came 
to Davenport and began to make a geological survey of Iowa. After he had 
worked for six months at this kind of work, which was not at all congenial, he 
located in Ivanhoe, Linn county, and taught the first term of school in that 
vicinity. In 1840 he was admitted to the bar at Iowa City, locating later at ]\Iar- 
ion, where he began the practice of law. The next year he was sent to the legis- 
lature. Here he became acquainted with the prominent men of the state, and as 
the law busine.ss was not flourishing he removed in 1845 to Dubuque, and while 
nominally in the practice he became editor of the Miner's E.cprcss. which was 
then o!ie of the flourishing papers of the territory. Three years later he formed 
a partnership for the practice of law with J. J. Dyer. In October. 1847, Judge 
Wil.son resigned his office of associate justice and the governor filled the vacancy 
by appointing George Greene, who from that day to the day of his death became 
a figure of importance in politics as well as in financial affairs in Iowa. Judge 
Greene was a man of marked ability, having had excellent opportunities and 
being possessed of untiring industry. In 1848 he was elected one of the .supreme 
court judges by tlie joint vote of the two houses of the General Assembly and 
served for six years from January 15, 1849. Dinnng his term of office he reported 
the decisions of the court. These decisions were published in four volumes and 
are known as "Greene's Reports of Iowa." In 1851 Judge Greene removed 
to Cedar Rapids, where he engaged in banking and where he was one of the 
most active citizens in persuading manufacturers to come to this city. He was 
instrumental in securing the Chicago & Northwestern, and the Burlington, Cedar 
Rapids & Northern Railways to pass through Cedar Rapids. In politics Judge 
Greene was a democrat until the Greely campaign, when he became a republican. 
Few, if any, have done so much among the early settlers in securing capital to 
be invested in Iowa. Judge Greene travelled nuich and personally knew many 
financiers in this country and in England, many oi whom invested much funds 
in farm lands, town lots, in bonds, and stocks, in Linn and adjoining counties. 
After locating in Cedar Rapids Judge Greene had a number of partnei-s. While 
he, himself, did not devote himself actively to the law business, the firm generally 
had a large practice. He was in partnership with Judge Hubbard, C.vrus Benley, 
A. S. Belt, nnd with Judge Dudle.v. 



CHATTY MENTION OF BENCH AND BAR 179 

A. Sidney Belt was a southerner by birth, a person of much ability, of 
enga^in^ manners, and well known in his day throughout Linn and adjoining 
counties. 

Colonel Isaac M. Preston was born in Bt-nnington. Vermont, in 1813, the son 
of a revolutionary soldier. He learned the trade of cabinet-making. At an 
early age he drifted west, remained for awhile in Ohio, and finally located in 
Marion in 1842, where he began the practice of law. Three years later he was 
appointed district attorney, .serving two years. In February, 184(), he was com- 
missioned colonel to organize troops for the Mexican war. He served as probate 
judge of Linn county for four years. He was ajipointed by Pre.sidcnt Polk, 
United States attorney for Iowa in 1847. In 18r>0 he was elected to the house 
of the Third General Assembly, and after si'r\"ing one term was elected to the 
state senate where, during four years in the Fourth and Fifth General Assem- 
blies, he was one of the most prominent legislators of that body and took an active 
part in the enactment of the Code of 1851. Colonel Preston had more litigation 
in his day and generation thou any one person in this and adjoining counties. 
He was strong before a court, tactful and invincible Ix'fore a jury, and especially 
in the defense of criminal cases he had no superior. The bar of Linn county dur- 
ing the early days was one of the strongest in the state, and Colonel Preston during 
his long and active practice before the supreme court, held a high place and was 
recognized as one of the leading attorneys of eastern Iowa, a position to which he 
early attained and which he continuously held up to the time of his death. 

William Smythe was bom in Tyrone county, Ireland, in 1824. He emigrated 
with his parents at the age of fifteen to America and located in Linn county in 
1840. He studied law at Iowa City, and in 1848 opened an office in Marion. In 
1853 he was appointed judge of the fourth judicial district, serving four years. 
In 1858 he was chosen l)y the Seventh General Assembly one of the three com- 
missioners to revise and codify the laws of the state. This work was accepted by 
the legislature and became what is known as the "Code of 1860." Judge Smythe 
was also appointed upon a commi.ssion of legal inipiiry, and was one of the com- 
missioners to negotiate lionds by the state to provide a war defense fund. He 
served two years in the army as colonel of the Thirty-first Iowa Infantr>\ In 
politics Judge Smythe was a republican, and from the beginning of his legal career 
he totik more or less interest in politics. In 1868 he and Judge Hubbard were 
the republican candidates for congress, a campaign which was waged with much 
bitterness, so much so that friend turned against friend and neighbor against 
neighlwr. It is said that a few days after Hubbard's defeat he met a shoe-maker 
on the street who had been a former friend but who had been persuaded to vote 
for Smythe. and Hubbard said to him, "Jack, you will not need to buy any bristles 
any more, just reach your hand over j'our shoulder and you can pull them out 
of your back, for there is nothing about you but a hog anyway." 

After Judge Smythe's nomination William Leffingwell was put up by the 
democrats to l)eat him, Leffingwell being one of the noted orators of the state, 
but Judge Smythe was victorious. He attained to a high place as lawyer and 
as a constructive statesman. He posse.ssed a profound intellect, was popular 
among the masses, and a just and honorable man. He passed away when he had 
just reached middle life, one of the ablest and most versatile men in Linn county 
at the time of his untimely death. 

Judge N. M. Hubbard, who was a unique character and one of the best known 
men in Iowa for many years, was born in Oswego, New York, in 1829, the .son 
of a Methodist minister. He wius reared on a farm and began life as a black- 
smith, although later he obtained a university education. Judge Hubbard lo- 
cated in Marion for the practice of his profession in 1854. later removing to Cedar 
Hapids. In Februarj-, 1856, he was a delegate to the state convention which met 
at Iowa City, where he helped to organize the republican party. During the war 



]80 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

he assisted in organizing the Twentietli Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in wliich he was 
chosen a captain, sei-ving under General P. J. Herron. In ilarch, 1863. he was 
promoted to judge advocate and sen'ed in the army until he was breveted ma.ior 
in 1865. This year he was appointt^d district judge, resigning after having 
served a year, to accept the position of general attorney for the Northwestern 
railroad in the state of Iowa. 

The sa.vings of Judge Hubbard would fill a book of many pages, but many 
of them would need to be sterilized before put into type. ]\Iany of the.se witty 
remarks are still repeated during a lull in the court room when stories take the 
place of dry facts. He was truly an original character, not only as a political man- 
ager of a great political party, but as railway counsel, and as a person who filled 
a large place in the political arena of Iowa for many years. A few of these say- 
ings may gi\e the reader an idea of the man as he really appeared during these 
years of his political and legal career in Iowa. 

At one time being asked how a new as.sistant liehaved who had been appointed 
local attorney for the railroad of which Hubbard had charge, he replied, "Tim 
is a real bull in a china shop; what he don't smash he dirties.'' 

Speaking at one time of a technical lawyer, he added, "here is my friend J. 
he is so technical that he will fall all over a crowbar to hunt for a pin and not 
even see the crowbar, mind you." 

While judge on the bench, some pompous doctor who was a witness asked leave 
to go horn;' to look after his patients, and the judge quietly replied. "You had 
bettei- stay here so as to give your patients a chance to get well.'" 

At anotlu r time an attorney who had formerly been governor got the worst 
of it in Hubbard's court, and he appealed to him as a man and friend, saying that 
the judge evidently must have forgotten that he held his position due to his 
appointment while governor. Judge Hubbard coolly replied, "Yes, I remember 
that very well as being the only decent act of your term of office," and went on 
ruling against him as he had before. 

On a hot June day Hubbard was trying a ease against John Weare. one of 
the old pioneer bankers of this comity. There was a lull in the proceedings, and 
as the jury was walking out of the court room Weare pulled out a large red hand- 
kerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow, when Hubbard in his peculiar articu- 
lation, for which he was noted, piped out, "John, it makes you sweat to tell the 
truth, don't it?" The crowd laughed, and the cutting sarcasm was never for- 
gotten or forgiven by the aged banker, who was at the mercy of his old antagonist. 

During one of the many political campaigns a Des Jloines paper accused 
Hubbard of giving away five luuidred tickets to delegates. He was asked by a 
friend about this and Hubbard replied. "That is a lie. I gave away eleven hundred 
tickets this year, that is all." 

During the Parrott fight for the governoi-ship of Iowa. Hubbard at first sup- 
ported his old friend. I)ut when he saw the turn affairs were taking he suggested 
that Parrott withdraw, but the candidate refused, adding that he had so many 
delegates pledged, and furthermore felt that he had Providence on his side. 
Hubbard simply replied. "Well, von can take to Providence and T will take to 
Shaw." 

While arguing a case before the supreme court, the opposing counsel had 
])ounded the table a. great deal during his lengthy argument. Wlien he con- 
cluded, Judge Hubbard arose to reply in the following little speech: "I am 
strong, I can pound this oak table to pieces for I have been a blacksmith in my 
time, and I will pound this table into splinters if you say and if it will help me to 
win this suit."' He went on in this manner until the members of the court 
laughed, and even the opposing counsel saw the ridiculou.sness of his performance. 

During one of his last apjiearances in court he was called In- the opposing coun- 
sel an "old mossback who might have been a great lawTei". but that was manj- 




METHODIST CHURCH, I'ALO 




SCENE AT SPKINGVILLK 



CHATTY MENTION OF P.HNCII AND l'.AI{ 181 

yeai-s ago." When tlie lawyer edrieluiied all eyes were turned on the old jud};e. 
As he arose to rei)ly he said: "True. I am old and not what 1 used to he, and I 
suppose I am fast fretting to be an old niossbaek. " Then he went on telling of the 
old lawyers he had known at the bar in Iowa in the early day. lie spoke of the 
methods of the old adviK-ates, and of their bitter political tiffhts, then added, "They 
never trieil to bolster uj) a witness, defraud an antagonist, or blaekniail a client 
as they do now. and if the real up-to-date lawyer must do such a thing in order 
to bei'ome great and prominent, then I thank Gml I am an old fogy of a lawyer 
and belong to the former generation." 

Judge Hubbard at one time abused Bill Harper most luimercifully in a suit, 
and Hill Harper threatened that he would maul Hubbard into a dish of .jelly at 
sight. The .judge one day appeared in eourt shortly after the trouble, when 
Major Thom|»son said, ".ludge. Bill Harper is looking for you." The judge 
looked aro.ind, for he feared Harper, and not seeing him. rei)lied in somewhat 
of a gusto, "I saw him in the park and if he had done anything to me, he would 
never have been Bill Harper at all, he would have been dead." 

At another time while the judge was defending a railroad company in a damage 
suit involving a large amount of money a colored man had sworn positively to 
facts in a case which everyone thought he knew nothing al)out. In the trial of the 
case the judge turned to an old friend, and a "Cop[)erhead." saying, "I am 
glad there are some Copperheads here; I fought to free the nigger, I stood up to 
be shot at. now, by gosh, I am a Copperhead. A man who will swear in court 
like that nigger did today ought to be a slave and should never be free." 

Judge James H. Rothroek was a native of Pennsylvania, and as a mere lad 
removed to Ohio where he acquired his education at Parker's Academy and at the 
Franklin I'niversity. He was admitted to the bar at Greenfield. Ohio, removing 
to Tipton, Iowa, in 1860. He was elected to the house of representatives in 1861 
and was elected speaker pro tem. He entered the army as lieutenant, and upon 
his return from the army formed a partnership with Judge W. P. Wolf, which 
lasted until he was nominated for judge of the eighth judicial district in 1866. 
He performed services as judge in that district with ability and impartiality. He 
was serving his third term when he was appointed to the licnch of the supremo 
court. 

A few stories may be related of Judge Rtithrock which in a way illustrate his 
wit and exemplary character: 

Judge Hothrock had Iteen trained in the general principles of law aiid did not 
go much on statute law. At one time he was one of a committee to ex^unine a 
number of persons for admission to the bar, and a young, bright fellow seemed to 
have comniit'ed to memorj- much of the statute law of the state, but knew nothing 
of general principles. The judge quietly said to the yoiuig man. "You surely are 
in a bad way. my friend, because the legislature might in a night repeal all the 
law that yo\i know." 

At another time he was on the bench in Linn county when George W. Wil.son. 
as reieiver. brought in a wagon load of books to prove up a certain assignment. 
Judge RothriM'l; asked why all the.se books were brought in. and Wilson replied. 
"To show up the receivership in the ca.se. your honor." The judge smiled and 
said. "Don't you think this failure was due to too much bookkeeping?" 

At one time as he was assigning <*ases. and not being familiar with some of the 
niemlH'rs of tiie bar. Tom Corbett appeared in a ease a.ssigned for trial. The 
judge fpiietly asked Mr. Corbett's name and as Mr. Corbett arose to speak Judge 
Hubbard blurted out, "Jot him down plain Tom, that is enouf,'h." Mr. Corbett 
blushed crimson, whispering to another attorney that he would net even some day. 
Judge Hubbard nwiny times afterwards became tln' l»rey to Corbett's heartless 
raillery, his sharp retorts, and pungent wit. 



182 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

At one time there were a number of lawyers engaged in a hotly contested will 
matter where Judge Rothrock presided, and as the attorneys talked back and forth 
across the table and there was more or less disturbance in the court room, the 
judge leaned quietly over, saying in a very pleasant manner to one of the lawyers 
who had done most of the quarreling, that he did not see why he was sitting there. 
The attorney quick as a flash replied, "You've got me now. Judge, I don't know." 

After his retirement from the bench Judge Rothrock was frequently called 
in to assist other attorneys in the trials of equity cases. It became a standing 
joke among the members of the bar that when they found cases in which Judge 
Rothrock had written the opinion which held just the opposite of what he was con- 
tending for, they were certain to rub it in, much to the judge's embarrassment. 

"While Judge Rothrock resided at Tipton he came up to Marion to preside over 
a term of court and as there were but few persons aroiuid he asked the bystanders 
if there was anything doing this term of court, to which they replied that they 
did not know. He said, "Is Doty here," and they replied that he was. Then 
he asked, "Is Harper here?" and they said he had been present for the past day 
or so. Then he said, ' ' Bailiff, take my grip and coat, there will be something doing 
this term of court ; I guess I will stay awhile. " 

It was Judge Rothrock who made the famous entry of record in several eases 
after Doty and Harper had fought for thirty years, "settled by agreement, each 
party to pay his own costs, peace declared, the same being duly ratified by the 
court." During these years Harper had lost everj^thing he had, and Doty was 
content to have his lawyer share the income out of an eighty acre tract of land and 
thus felt that he came out about even. He figured that the lawyer got the better 
half of the income of this farm during all the years the litigation continued. 

In 1876 Rothrock was appointed member of the supreme court. He removed 
to Cedar Rapids, where he resided until his death in 1899. For thirty years he 
was a member of that body and materially assisted in laying down many sound 
legal principles which courts in the west have since followed. 

Judge Rothrock was not known as a brilliant judge, but was profound, and 
a man endowed by nature with the judicial temperament which so well fitted him 
for the bench. His opinions have always been known for clearness of apprehen- 
sion, tempered by integrity and impartiality. 

J. J. Child, a native of the state of New Jersey, drifted into Cedar Rapids in 
1854 for the practice of liis profession. He was a large man, somewhat stooped, 
of scholarly attainments, and besides had more than ordinary native ability. 
Few, if any, excelled Mr. Child in knowledge of legal principles and their applica- 
tion to existing facts, although many excelled him in the court room and before 
juries. 

J. J. Child, J. J. Snouffer. and I. N. Whittam were instrumental in obtaining 
the special charter for Cedar Rapids in 1856. In the municipal affairs of Cedar 
Rapids Mr Child held many offices up to the time of his death in 1889. He 
possessed talents of a very high order, but his mode of life lessened his influence 
in the community. Capable of most any position, he achieved little or no success, 
and died poor and unlmown, because the baneful influences of drink sapped his 
vitality and ruined a brilliant intellect. 

One of the most original characters in the "70s was Jerry Lynch, who had 
practiced law in Benton county before coming to Cedar Rapids. ]\Ir. Lynch was 
resourceful as a lawyer, had a keen sense of humor, and possessed a great deal of 
abilitj-. It is said that when Jerry had two glasses to the wind he was in his 
element, especially in defending a criminal, for it is said of him that "he always 
denied everything and asked for proof. " At one time he was prosecuting certain 
persons and realized that he had no proof. The rain was pouring down, and as 
he looked out of the window he said with all the dignity of a judge, "Your 
Honor, on account of the inclemency of the weather I dismiss the case. ' ' 



CHATTY MENTION OF BENCH AND BAR 183 

At another time he was opposed by several lawyers who made fuu of his 
partner's military record. Tiiere is nothing that so touches the Irishman's heart 
as an exhibit of disloyalty, and Jerry arose to reply, saying, "My friend on the 
other side laughs at my co-counsi>rs military record. Let me tell you what he did 
during the war. He sjit on top of the northern mountain peak of Vermont with 
his breeches padded read\ to slitle into Canada at the first intimation of the 
draft." There were a number of soldiers on that jury and it is needless to say 
that Jerry won his case, regardless of the legal questions involved. 

Mr. Lynch at one time defended a saloonkeeper, and was waiting his turn as 
Judge Shane passed sentence of "guilty" upon one after another. Jerry arose 
to speak fcr his client saying, "It is an unplea.'iant duty I am called upon to 
perform. I defend the worst saloonkc»eper in Cedar Rjipids. lie runs the worst 
hole-in-the-wall in Cedar Riipids, and I have been in there myself and I am 
ashamed to tell your honor that it is so. I am not defending my client, for he is 
a law-breaker and everybody knows it." And he went on telling about the de- 
praved individual who ran the saloon, and then he began : "I am not defending the 
saloon, I would not be here for that, but that man has a wife and children, and as 
nice children you ever did see." Then he went on telling about the kindness 
of that wife who was mistreated by a drunken brute of a husband till tears 
came into many eyes in that room. The sympathies of the judge were aroused 
and Jerry's client was duly acquitted. 

Frank Ilormel came to Cedar Rapids as a young man, from Ohio, possessing 
education and courteous manners It might be well said of him, that from 
nothing he attained to an income of $10,000.00 a year. Mr. Ilormel was lank ami 
lean in appearance: was a student who devoted his nights to old "Father Antics." 
the law. He argued to the court with much success and was discreet and dexter- 
ous before a jury. He was kind hearted and generous to a fault, and attracted 
friends by the brilliancy of his conversation. 

Mr. Honnel has been declared by the older members of the bar as a remark- 
able man for adroitness in a law suit and for knowledge at every stage of the 
case. He was a person of many parts and varied culture, who just before he had 
turned fifty was literally worn out on account of the strenuous life he had been 
living. He set his stakes high and paid the penalty. 

Just after the Civil war a number of young men drifted into Linn county, a 
numlK'r of whom had seen serv'ice and who later became lawyers, doi-tors, and 
bankers in this and adjoining counties. 

Among a number of attorneys who located here during the '60s these may be 
mentioned; Mason P. Mills, John J. Powell, Charles H. Keelcr, Frank Ilormel. 
Judge Leach. Judge Spanglcr, T. J. Dudlev. Jr., A. R. West. H. (t. Bowman, 
D. L. Palmer, J. C. Davis, J. W. Bull, A. V. Eastman. Henry Rickel. C. M. Ilollis, 
C. S. Lake, Judge J. D. Giffin, Colonel Charles A. Clark. B. F. Heins. and many 
others. These were all j'oung men and all became more or less noted in the legal 
profession, as well as .socially and politically. 

Mase Mills was a business getter, but not a soiuid lawyer. He neither had the 
ability nor inclination for discrimination. He said of himself that in his native 
place when a boy, when a medicine faker threw out peanuts for the boys to 
fight over, he always got his share. In the rough and tumble of law suits he was 
fairly successful for the reason that he always a.s.sociated himself with lawyers 
of ability. He was a jollv good fellow, a great mixer, and knew men. 

Mr. Powell had been in the armv. was a college graduate, and soon took a lead- 
ing place among the attorneys at the bar in this county. He pas-sed awa.v in 
Januarj-. 1008. one of the best known and most highlv respected citizens of the 
city of Cedar Rapids. 

Benjamin Franklin Heins was in his day and generation a much talked of man. 
Of Ben Heins many stories may be told. He was noted for getting his English 




c^ IiL^^O 



THE BLACK HAWK PURCHASE 




\ 



I 






Qnma 




\ IKvV l)l-' Si'KINOVILLE SOON AKThK lUVVN WAS KOUNUKl) 




FIRST STORK IN SI'RINdVll.LE 




SHOWING DBS MOINKS COUNTY SURDIVIDKD 



186 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

mixed and his penmanship conformed to no rule, while Murray's grammar had 
never come under his notice. A wag once demurred to Ben's petition as follows: 
To eoiuit one, for the reason that it could not be read ; to count two, because it 
was unintelligible, and the demur was sustained. Ben ran for alderman and 
gave up a day or two before election, as he had one hundred votes to the good. 
The day after election his friends met at his office to ascertain the cause of his 
defeat, when Ben broke out, "Well, gentlemen, I did not know till today that 
there were two hundred liars in my ward." 

Ben was not a great lawj'cr, but he had much business. During the Texas oil 
speculation one of the oil boomers came to Ben and offered him fabulous wages 
to take him around among his German clients to sell oil stock. Ben soon saw the 
trick and replied to the boomer as follows: "My enemies won't bite on this propo- 
sition, and I do not wish to soak my friends in this way. You better look for 
some other sucker." 

Mills & Keeler were in partnership a number of years, mostly engaged in rail- 
•way litigation. Mr. Keeler became known outside the confines of the state, and 
died scarcely past middle life at the head of the legal department of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, with ofSces in Chicago. Mr. Keeler was short 
of stature, with black hair and beard, and in a law suit very nervous. It is 
said that during the Bever will trial Colonel Clark, in the midst of the trial, said 
to Keeler, "If you will only put a feather in your hair, Charley, you would make 
an ideal Mephistopheles without any further makeup." Mr. Keeler was a shrewd, 
wide-awake lawyer, whose mental constitution peculiarly fitted him for tlie prac- 
tice of law, who possessed the faculty of crowding the salient features of a case 
in a few words, and who knew better than most lawyers what the law ought to 
be if he could not cite a case in point. He was cold-blooded and had few warm 
friends, but everyone acknowledged his abilities. His restless brain simply liuriit 
up his tissues long before his time. 

Mr. Bowman excelled as a brilliant jury lawyer, who by his magnetic per- 
sonality knew how to handle a jury and to obtain a favorable verdict, especially on 
the defense in a criminal suit where he could appeal to the sympathies of the 
juiy. Mr. Bowman possessed the magnetic quality to attract persons to him, 
and was one of the most resourceful lawyere at the l)ar. 

Of the early practitioners at the bar all have passed away or have retired 
except Judge J. H. Preston, a son of Colonel Preston, still in practice in Cedar 
Rapids, and IMajor William G. Thompson. 

Major Thompson must be given space in this sketch. He was an associate 
of Hubbard, Isbell, Cook, Stephens, Corbett, Young, Mcintosh, Mitchell, San- 
ford, David, and Greene. Judge Thompson is a native of Butler coimty, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he was bom in 1830. He was reared on a farm, received his early 
education in a log school house and became a teacher. He attended an academy 
where he remained two years, when he began the study of law, supporting himself 
by working for his employers. At twenty-five he was admitted to the bar, and in 
1853 located in Marion for the practice of his profession. He was a member of 
the state convention at Iowa City in 1856 when the republican party was organ- 
ized. In this year he was also chosen a member of the state senate, serving in the 
Sixth and Seventh General Assemblies. In 1864 he was one of the presidential 
electors, and was elected district attorney, serving six years. The office of gen- 
eral justice of the territory of Idaho was offered him in 1879 whicli he accepted, 
but was elected to congress from the fifth district the same year to fill a vacancy 
and was re-elected for the next regular term. In 1885 he was elected to the 
Twenty-first General Assembly and was an important factor in the impeachment 
proceedings against Auditor Brown. In 1894 Judge Thompson was appointed 
judge of the eighteenth judicial district and served in that capacity until he 
retired a few years ago on account of advanced age. 



CHATTY MENTION OF BENCH AND BAR 187 

A few stories may be told about Major Thompson to give the reader an idea 
of the man and of tlie times. Tall, spare, and of commandinp; stature, with a 
wonderful comiiiand of laiifjiiage, he would convulse a witness or niafrnetize a 
jury witii his quaint saying, and in a minute would melt tliein into tears with his 
pathos or arouse them to indignation by his denuneiations of what he believed was 
wrong. 

In the Bever will case, in which Thompson appeared for the contestants, he 
was to open the case to the jury, when Hubbard who iiad full charge of the case, 
said that lie wanted Thompson to speak at least two days. The major replied, 
"(Jn>at God man, what sludl I say to that jury e.\ce[)t that here is the will and 
there are the girls, they should have |)art of this estate?" He made the longest 
jurj' argtnncnt he ever made in his life, which did not exceed forty minutes, but 
he won the case. 

Another incident in the Bever will case might be mentioned. After the case 
had gone to the highest court the parties agreed to compromise. They obje<'ted 
to fees which were very large. .Sli(>ritT Dan Kinley had a fee bill of !}il,(HH).00, 
which the parties contested. The motion was set down for hearing, when Kiidey 
stepped up and waiit<'d his matter disposed of. Judge Wolf was on the bench 
and asked if the sheriff had any lawyer. He replied, "No, I asked several lawyers 
and they all claimed they were retained on one side or the other." The judge 
looked down upon an array of lawyers, counting about fifteen, and said, "All 
right, go ahead gentlemen." As the long string of lawyers came out after the 
hearing Major Smith came along and said to the judge, who came out with Kinley, 
"How about that motion for fees. Judge, which you have been hk-aring?" 
"Well." rejilied Wolf, "there were twenty lawyers on the other side, and after 
lengthy arguments Dan and I managed to beat them." 

When Judge Thompson was on the bench he used to sentence criminals like 
this: "You deserve just ten years in the pen. or as long as the law allows. You 
should stay there. I never heard any good you ever did. But I see your wife 
here. She looks like a good woman: I'll give you thirty days in jail." 

At one time a woman came to Thompson to get a divorce from her husband. 
The judge Inward her story. She stated that when the husband came home and 
the meals were not ready he would simply rave. "How does he act when you 
do have the meals ready?" "Oh, he aet.s all right then," replied the woman. 
"Well." said the judge, "I advise you to go home and feed the brute, and you 
will liave no trouble." 

On the stump the judge was often accused of waving the "bloody shirt." and 
he used to reply to his opponents that "he knew what he was waving, because he 
had been there." When in congress the major was a member of the committee 
to try the contested election cases. Colonel R. G. Ingersoll was one of the attor- 
nej's frequently employed by the contestants and he became very friendly with 
the members of this committee. One morning as the colonel entered and found 
the major lot'king over some of the records, the great orator, looking at the Iowa 
congressman, said, "Major, I like you." Thompson looked up and inquired, 
"Why so. Colonel?" "W^ell," replied the magnetic orator, "because if I can 
establish the fact that my client is running on the republican ticket I have won my 
case with you, but it takes a great deal more to convince the other members 
of your conunittee. " 

George W. Wilson was an old character at the bar of Linn county, and many 
are the eases on our county records with the words. O. W. Wil.son per se. He 
brought more worthless eases than any other firm or individual and was the 
owner of more ta.x titles than any other individual in this or any other county in 
Iowa. His tax titles were so clouded that the lourt intimated in a certain execu- 
tion "that they would never fasten on anything in particular." 



188 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Linu county has had its share of "constant litigants." The dam across the 
liver has tieen a constant eyesore, with rights vest^^-d and otherwise. There has 
not been a time since the franchise was granted by the state for dams up to the 
present time that some suit has not been pending in the district or supreme 
court involving some phase of the property rights of the respective owners in 
common. The so-called legal ownership of the dam is now supposed to be vested 
in tlie city of Cedar Rapids, and fees are no longer forthcoming, so during the 
past few years there has been a lull in this branch of litigation. 

William Harper. J. W. Traer, J. P. Glass, John Weare, W. S. Cooper, N. B. 
Bro\ra, Colonel J. M. May, J. J. Snouft'er, G. W. Wilson, Theresa O'Connell, Doc 
Paul, and Lewis & Mason kept the legal mill grinding for many years. How- 
ever, by common consent, Elias Doty, son of one of the first settlers, seems to have 
held the trump card for litigation in the number of suits that he has ])rought and 
defended. He is something like Micawber in this particular that "he has become 
acquainted with the law l)y being made a party so often." It is said that Doty 
started his litigation by taking a law book in a horse trade, from wliich he got a 
smattering of law, which volume was cited in many trials until some up-to-date 
lawyer ruled the book out before a justice because it had been printed in England. 

The Bever will case was one of the most hotly contested cases in the county 
on account of the large interests at stake and the prominence of the interested 
parties as well as the prominence and standing of the attorneys employed. 

IMany have questioned wliether the lawyer of the future will occupy the .same 
position in the community as the pioneer lawyers. The legal l)usLness is rapidly 
changing, and before many years the successful lawyer will be one who renders 
legal opinions as to what the law is before suit is brought, and there will he less 
and less of great speeches delivered "amid full houses and loud cheers." The 
pioneer lawyer arose to distinction and political preferment by force of his 
native ability. It is doubtful if we shall in the future have a class of attorneys 
who will play such an important part in the upbuilding of the county and of the 
state. It is doubtful if we ever shall look upob their kind again. 

The practicing attorneys of Linn county at this time are as follows: 

F. B. Armstrong. E. C. Barber, A. R. Berry. U. C. Blake. Charles W. Bingham, 
Don Barnes. Fred A. Bowman, George F. Buresh, Frank C. Bvers. C. jM. Brown. 
Charles A. Clark, Prank G. Clark. C. F. Clark, William G. Ciark. A. T. Cooper, 
W. L. Crissman. J. C. Cook, J. H. Crosbv, W. L. Cron, William Chamberlain. 
H. R. Churchill F. F. Dawlev. F. J. Dawlev. C. J. Deacon. Vincel Drahos, L. D. 
Dennis. iM. J. Donuellv. 0. J. Felton. E. A. Fordvce, Elmer Green. J. W. Good. 
J. iM. Grimm, W. J. Grunewald. T. :M. Giberson. E. W. Grififiths, S. M. Hall. 
Warren Harman, G. J. Hedges. J. X. Hughes. C. D. Harrison. Louis Heins. F. W. 
Hann, Frank A. Hcald. J. W. Jamison, E. C. Johnson. L. ]\1. Kratz. J. C. Leonard. 
J. J. Lenehan. G. P. Linville, Fred Luberger, Joseph ilekota, R A. IMoses. ;\Iatt 
J. IMiles. Stephen Novotny. E. C. Preston, J. H. Preston, Thomas B. Powell. 
M. I. Parter. Frank H. Randall. Mhq J. Randall. John M. Redmond. John A. Reed. 
C. B. Rol)bins, Plenrv Riekel. II. C. Ring. C. S. Smith. M P. Smith. William 
Smythe. W. E. Steele. Jolm D. Stewart, A. H. Sargent. Roland Shaver. H. E. 
Spangler. C. R. Sutherland. L. J. Storev. G. R. Tavlor. P. W. Tourtellot. 
J. II. Trewin, J. U. Tallman. C. G. W^atkins. Charles E. AVlu^eler. B. L. 
Wick. J. r. Yessler. Cedar Rapids: II. C. Printy, Center Point. Iowa; Thomas 
Davis. Central Citv, Iowa : E. A.Johnson, B. J. Laucamp. Lisbon : F. L. Anderson. 
James E. Bromwell. :M. W. Courtnev. W. S. Griffiths, James :\I. Grav. Charles J. 
Haas. B. P Harding, C. S. Lake. William G. Thompson. J. :\I. Thompson, D. E. 
Voris, Marion; C. W. Kepler. Louis II. Kepler. G. M. Wilson. F. T. Davis. William 
Glenn. :\ft. Vernon; D. D. Stevens, Paralta, Iowa; Thomas Ware. Troy Mills; 
A. W. Fisher, Walker; HonuM' James, Springville. 




LUTHERAN CHURCH, LISBON 





MAIN STREET, LISBON 



CHATTY MEXTIOX OB" HKXCII AND W.Wl 1S<) 

LINN COUNTY JUSTI('p:s 

III pioiieiT days the tnwiisliip justice played an iiiiportaiil pint in tin' ^riiwtli 
and |)r«)fri*fs,s of the t-oniiniinity. He acted as the safe cDunsellor and the family 
adviser. He drew up all sorts of lejjal papers, settled strifes, legalized niar- 
riai,'es. It was in the .justice court that tlte new lawyer would show off his 
ability. It was an age when "wit and whiskey were the principal thinjjs at 
the bar," and the early lawyers Ity nature posses.sed the one uml frei|ueiitl.\' 
jiartook of the other. 

Hefore these country tribunals these younj; fellows at the bar were not 
miserly of their eccentricities by any means. The justice courts in olden 
tinis were held under the oaks in sununer and in blacksmith shops and grist 
mills in colder weather, and hi-re when law was not made, the politics and 
gossip of the da.v were often discussed. The justice was always a leader in 
his c<unmunit.v, and he led in numy wa.vs. The stor.v fre<pientl.v went "as 
goes the justice .so goes the township." The voter placed faith in the judg- 
ment of the justice and he ruled the community sometimes with an iron hand. 
However, the dictatorial justice soon lost caste and some one else would be 
chosen at the next election. Much good work was done by the frontier justice 
as peace maker, for often where quarrels arose involving a whole neighbor- 
hood he would tix it up in some wa.v, asserting with all the powers at his com- 
mand that "it wa.s a dirty suit" which must be seltle<l. 

They were as a rule men of character and of influence, and fearless when it 
came to dealing out ju.stice to ofJenders and those who opeul.v violated the 
law. Of course they were backed by the sturdy farming population who could 
be dcp«'nded upon to stand up for the rules as laid down by the justice. 

Man.v stories ma.v be told at the expense of the countr.v justice. It is re- 
lated of an old New Englander in Monroe township that when a case came 
bef(tre him as to certain offenses and the attorne.v for the defendant saw that 
the feelings of the justice were against him he made a motion that the guilt 
or innocence of the victim be put to a vote of the house. While he thought 
this was a little strange, .still his sense of justice and his New England train- 
ing asserted itself and the crowd voted that the i>arty should go free, against 
the jirotest of the attorney for the state. 

Dr. J. H. C'and)urn was an able justice. The wa.v he woidd take things in 
hand and decide matters were worth going a distance to see and hear. Dr. 
Camburn was decidedly practical and had good sense. It is said that John 
\Veare made a better justice than Dave King, for King had friends at times 
whom he wanted to help while Wean' had no friends. 

Justice Sn.vder, of Putnam township, sentenced a poor fellow at one time to 
the jienitentiary for stealing a bee tree when a tree of that kind and a whole 
acre of land on which it grew would not be worth more than $r).00. The 
con.stable marched the poor fellow across the country to the sheriff's office, 
awaiting further instructions. The .sheriff sent the constable home and told 
the prisoner to go home, as the justice had exceeded his authorit.v. The scare 
at least made the poor fellow forever afterwards an ideal citizen and the 
justice always thought that he had done a good job after all even though he 
had exceeded his authority. 

Many of the fathers and grandfathers of the present generation look back 
with i)ri<le ujxiu the work accomplished b.v their ancestors who held down 
the justice's oflice in some of the townships of the county. Who does not re- 
member such names as J. G. Cole, Isaac Butler, Bob Ilodgin, Ed Crow, William 
Abbe, Burnett, Co<|uiIlette. Knickerbocker, L. L. Davis, Israel MiU-hell, Wni. 
I're. H. M. (Junnison, Wm. Cooper, J. S. Anderson, John Stewart, C. W. Phelps, 




AFTER THE SAC AND FOX CESSION OF 1837 




LATE DIVISION OF THE BLACK HAWK I'LRCHASE 



192 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Aaioii Mi.hr, Thos. Goudy, J. M. Aflftery, J. W. Babbitt, \V. H. Hunter, II. B. 
Biirnapp. J. Shearer. GJeo. Greene, and scores of others. 

These frontier justices were many of them men of culture and education, 
such as ]\Iitchell and Judge Greene. Many of them were shrewd, as Wm. Ure, 
Gunnison, Butler, Nufjent and many others. These men' saw into schemes 
which were fretjuently played upon men of the community and woe unto the 
man who got caught in such a game in the new community where all stood by 
the justice and the justice's rule was the supreme law in those days. But the 
country justice, whatever his ability, always decided on the side of justice and 
mercy. 

The country justice was a self made man of sound judgment and by fair 
dealings was the arbiter of the fortunes of the county in an e^rly daj'. He is 
worthy of mention as a type of the pioneer who took an active intejest in the 
upbuilding of the county and in preserving order and enforcing law. 

The following items show the importance of the justices in "ye olden time." 
These were found by a member of the S. H. Tryon family and presented to the 
Linn County Historical Society. 

Linn Coiuity. ^ 

Iowa Territory. 

To any Justice of the Peace for Linn County, or ministetr of the Gospel, 
These in the name of the United States are to authorize you to join in matrimony 
]\Ir. James Hunter and Miss Mary Rogers and fail not to make due return. 
March 10, 1840. 

S. H. Tryon, C. D. C. 
Executed bv the undersigned on the 14th dav of ilarch, 1840. 

Israel Mitchell. J. P. 

Iowa Territory. 
Linn County, 

To any Justice of the Peace or Minister of the Gospel in the name of the 
United States of America, These are to authorize you to join in matrimony Mr. 
Joseph Barnett and Miss Mary Libo. 

Given under my hand and seal of office this 20th day of June, 1840. 

S. H. Tryon, (seal) 

District Clerk. 
Territory of Iowa. 
Linn County, 

To any Justice of the Peace or IMinister of the Go.spel in the name of the 
United States of America ; these are to authorize you to join in matrimony Mr. 
Henry Donahoo and Miss Sarah Ann Burgess. 

Given under the temporary seal of said Coiinty. 

S. II. Tryon, Clerk C. C. L. C. I. T. 

C. W. Phelps, Justice of the Peace, married David Maun and Sally Lewis 
April 16, 1842. William Adair and Sabrina Williams on the 17th day of De- 
cember, 1840, George Adair and Elizabeth Ellen Smith on the 6th day of Jan- 
uaiy, 1841, and Mr. John Leverich and Miss Lucy Ann Smith on the 25th day 
of February, 1841. 

John Stewart, Justice of the Peace, married James R. Briney and Mary 
Stamberg on the 10th day of March, 1841 ; and married Mr. Andrew Arnett 
and Miss Jane Johnson on the 8th day of June, 1841. 

Aaron Jlobcr. Justice of the Peace, on the 4t}i day of July, 1841. married 
John Dwyer and ^liss Jlinerva Plant. 

John G. Cole, Justice of the Peace, married David Hunter and Sarah Jane 
Kogers on the 23rd day of July, 1840. 




PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT SPRINGVILLE 




THE BUTLER FARM AT SI'RINOVIIXE 



CHATTY MKXTIOX OF lUvXCll AND I'.AK VXi 

William Abbe, Justice of the I'eace, on the 10th day of June, 1840, married 
Mr. Asher Kilt;erton and Jliss Julia Deale. 

John Cron, Justice of the Peace, married Mr. Aaron Haynes and Miss Sally 
IMaiiii, on the 21st day of July, 1840. 

Thomas (ioudy. Justice of the Peace, on the Urd day of November, 1840, mar- 
ried llosca \V. (J ray and Miss Nancy Smith. 

Jno. Iloddes, a Minister of the (lospel, married Mr. John Riley and Miss Mary 
Ellen Bi^Tfrer on the I'^iid day of July, 1841. 

J. 1'. Stuart, a Ministt^r t>f the tiospel, married Mr. Hoi)crt Cunniujjhaiu 
Shinn and JIis.s Martha Marcissa Willis on the 8th day of September, 1840. 

John M. AflFerty, Justice of the Peace, married Klisha Freeman Williams 
and Julian Clark on the 4th day of July, 1840. 

James W. Hiipitt, Justice of the Peace, married Mr. Mai-k .Morris and Jidia 
Ann Carpenter o!i the 4th day of July, 1840; he also married Frederick (Iram- 
bow and Miss Martha Harris on the 1st day of September, 1S4(I. 

Israel Mitcliell, Justice of the Peace, married Mr. James Hunter and Miss 
Mary Ropers on the 14th day of March. 1840; he also married ^Ir. Joseph Har- 
nett and Miss Mary Libo on the 21st day of June, 1840; also Mr. Henry Don- 
ahoo and Jliss Sarah Ann Ropers were married by the same party on the 2nd 
day of Aupust, 1840. 

The above named clerk who issued the licenses was Dr. Socrates H. Tryon, 
who was appointed clerk of the Third Judicial District of which Joseph Wil- 
liams was judge. He was also the first physician to locate within the bound- 
aries of Linn county. 

George Greene acted as deput.v clerk during the year 1841, and he issued 
also several licenses to marry well known Linn county people, some of whom 
were: Sarah Rogers to Wiley Fitz during January, 1841, and ^lar.v Stambaugh 
to James R. Hrine.v in March, of the same year. 

On March 2, 1841. Sally Hanes nuikcs a sale of one reil cow, two sows and 
eight shoats for $20.00 to Jacob JIann, which fact is attested to by Isaac But- 
ler aiul that tlie goods were delivcre<i in person and money paid. 

In Otter Creek townshij) before W. H. Hunts, J. P., on August -iO, 1852, the 
following case was docketed: "State of Iowa vs. Orin Draper, Felony," 
charged by William Garretson, attempted to poison his family and himself; 
that he is in fear of the defendant and dare not leave his home and follow his 
occtipation. That William Cress dul.v l)rought the defendant into Court ; that 
defendant denied that he was guilty and asked for trial. J. Hunt appeared 
for the State; defeiulant pleaded his own ease; that after examination of wit- 
nesses separately and arguments made, the testimony all being understood by 
the court, thereupon it is considered that defendant go fnv without day or 
«Iate. 



CHAPTER XXII 

The Schools of the County 

Schools iu Linn county came into existence almost as early as the first 
settlers arrived here. Most of the pioneers came from homes of culture and 
refinement and hence appreciated the value of an education. There were 
no public schools at first. Teachers were employed by private subscription. 
Lessons were taught in the settler's cabin, fitted up with rough boards or 
puncheons, and of course the attendance was small. 

The organic law which provided for the division of Wisconsin and Iowa 
makes no provision for education, and no reference to it. On January 15, 
1839, an act was passed by the Council and House of Representatives of the 
Territory of Iowa, providing for "grants of property made for the encourage- 
ment of education." This act has no bearing whatever on our present school 
.sy.stem. It deals expressly with donations and gifts for educational purposes. 

The real beginning of our present school system is embodied in "An Act 
to Establi.sh a System of Common Schools," approved by the Council and House 
of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa, January 16. 1840. 

There are many surprises in this bill when one compares it to our present 
school laws; in fact, many of our school laws have not been materially changed 
since the enactments of 1840. It is interesting to note that according to the 
provisions of this bill, the school library is not a new idea, but it was provided 
for. In Section thirteen, paragraph five, the qualified voters in each district 
were given power to "impose a tax sufficient for the purchase of a suitable 
library case, also a sum not exceeding ten dollars annuallj', for the purchase 
of books to be selected by a vote of the district, by the district board, when so 
directed." Paragraph six of the same section designates "the place where 
the library shall be kept, and the person by whom it shall be kept ;" and states 
that "the superintendent of public instruction shall establish the necessary 
rules for the regulation of the library." Section fifteen provides that "every 
person elected to any one of the above offices who, without sufficient cause, 
shall neglect or refuse to serve shall forfeit to the district for the use of the 
library the sum of ten dollars, to be recovered in an action of debt by the 
assessor before any court of competent jurisdiction." 

Another interesting item is the fact that school inspectors instead of 
school directors at that time had charge of the schools. In Section twenty- 
three, these inspectors are provided for in the following words: "There 
shall be chosen at each annual township meeting, three school inspectors in 
the same manner as other township officers are chosen, who shall hold their 
office until others are chosen." 

It was the duty of these inspectors, according to Section twenty-nine of this 
Act, to examine closely all persons presenting themselves as candidates for 
teaching in their township, and although a certificate may have been issued 
to a teacher, if the inspectors became dissatisfied, luider Section thirty, they 
might again require the teacher to be re-examined, and if in their opinion 
the teacher was found wanting the requisite qualifications, their certificates 
might be annulled by giving the teacher ten days' notice, and filing the same 
with the clerk of the township. 

Judge ]\Iilo P. Smith when entering upon the duties of his school at Wire's 
Corners, just east of Spriugville, was examined by this method, and it is 



THE SCHOOLS OF THE COrXTV 195 

quite interesting to hear him tell his early experiences in the schools of Linn 
county. Quite vividly docs he brin^r to one's mind the sparsely settled con- 
dition of the neiphhorhood around Sprinsrvillc and Viola, when relating an in- 
cident repardiiif: his triii from this school house to a party where lie had been 
invited to spend the evening,'. After arran-rinsr his records and owtlinint; the 
lessons for the next day, the Jud^c states tiiat he started for his destination, 
and about ten o'clock at nifrht realized that he was completely lost. Evidently 
he must have traveled in a circle, for he states that about two or three o'clock 
the next morning he saw a sleam of li^dit flash out of a door. Startin<; im- 
niediately in that direction, he arrived at the place where the party was held, 
just in time to ride home with the yount: folks. 

At the same session, a law was ])assed rcfiarding the sale of the .school 
lands, and this law was approved January 17, 1840. 

On February 17, 1842, a bill was passed creating the office of Superintendent 
of Public Instruction. The duties of this officer at this time was very limited; 
they being of a clerical nature instead of those of a supervisor. Of course 
there could be no school districts or anything,' of that nature orf^anized in the 
county until after some county organization. The bill calling for the organ- 
ization of Linn county was not i)asse(l until 1840. It is (piitc interesting to 
know that it was at this time that the Commissioner or rather what is known 
to-day as the Supervisor Districts were laid out. The bill reads as follows: 

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of 
the Territory of Iowa, That the board of county commissioners in and for the 
county of Linn, be and they are hereby authorized and required to lay oflf the 
county aforesaid into three county commissioners' districts, prior to the 
first ilay of Autrust, A. D eighteen hundred and forty-one, making the divi- 
divisiou as nearly as possible in i)roportion to the jiopulation of said county; 
and the districts shall be classified by said commissioners as di.stricts number 
one, number two, and nuud)er three. 

"Sec. 2. That at the next general election there shall be elected from di.strict 
number one one county conunissioner ; and alternately thereafter there shall be 
elected from each district (me county commissioner annually, in accordance 
with the provisions of an act organizing a board of county commissioners in each 
county in Miis Territory, ajjprovcd December 14th, A. D. eighteen hundred and 
thirty-eight, in like nuinner as though the county had been divided under the 
provisions o^ .said act. 

"Approved, December ,11, 1840." 

This is especially interesting, inasmuch as there has l)een a gn-at deal of dis- 
cussion of late regarding the nnndier of supervisors in Linn coiuity. The 
districts as laid out at that time remain today. 

Hy an act of the .same As.sembly. approved June 13, 1841. Marion was estab- 
lished as a seat of justice of Linn county, and the commissioners of Linn county 
were authorized to employ agents to sell lots. 

The office of the superintendent of public instruction swmed to have iieeu 
short-lived, for on P'ebruary 17, 1842, an act was pa.s.sed by the territorial 
legislafun- which n'pealed the act of creating the office of superintendent of 
public instruction. 

In 184K an act wa.s passed January 15th, which in some respects amended 
an act "T<i Establish a System of Common Schools," which was pas.scd in 1840. 
This bill (the one of 1845) really made what is now known as the connty auditor, 
the educational head of the schools, and provided a tax for their sujiport. 

In chapter !)!), page 127, of the Territorial Statutes of 1847. there is an act 
relating to the common schools. In section 36. page 134. it provides that at the 



196 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

uext annual township election (which evidently must have been held iu the 
spring) there was to be elected a school fund commissioner. This eommissiouer 
is what is now known as the county superintendent of schools, and his duties 
were many and varied. 

In the election book it is shown that in April, 1852. out of the six hundred 
and ninety-one votes cast, Alpheus Brown I'eceived five hundred and seventy- 
three, and was declared elected. In the formation and alteration of school dis- 
tricts, the records of the county go back a.s far as 1849, in which records Mr. 
Brown signed as school fund commissioner. However, this may be attributed to 
the fact that previous to 1852, Mr. Brown was clerk of the county board of com- 
missioners, and the duties of the school fund commissioner devolved upon that 
office at that time ; consequently the presumption is that when he entered upon 
his duties as school fund commissioner, and began to make up his records, he 
naturally took from the records of the clerk of the l)oard of county commis- 
sioners the things which belonged to the office. 

Mr. Brown held this office for three full terms, also about six or eight months 
additional time, although Albert A. Mason was elected and qualified as county 
superintendent of schools in the election of April, 1858. Mr. Brown served until 
January, 1859, as school fund commissioner. This came from the fact that the 
county superintendent was provided for by the Statute of '58, the election 
taking place on the first Monday in April, but at this time some of the duties 
devolved upon the coimtj' superintendent. By chapter 36 of the Statutes of 
1858, section 1, the office of the school fund commissioner was continued until the 
county treasurer was elected. The presumption is, therefore, that for about six 
months we had both a school fiuid commissioner and a coimty superintendent of 
schools in this county. 

It is possible, also, that Mr. Brown served as a sort of triumvirate, as he 
was school fund connuissioner by election, for the simple reason that Mr. Mason 
may not have qualified until three or four days after the time set; he was also 
school fund commissioner by the extension Statute, and county superintendent of 
schools from the fact that his successor had not qualified; in fact in some of the 
school reports, he signed as both school fund commissioner and county superin- 
tendent. However, Mr. Mason entered upon his duties and served as super- 
intendent of schools for one term, when Ira G. Fairbanks (who by the way, still 
lives in Mount Vernon) was elected as his successor. 

It is a difficult matter to state who was the first school teacher in the county. 
In 1839 several schools were in operation. In July of that year Elizabeth Ben- 
nett taught in Linn Grove, and later that same year Judge Greene taught at 
Tvanhoe. One of the noted schools of the early day was the one known as the 
"Buckskin School," in Linn Grove, so named because teacher and scholars 
alike attended clad in buckskin suits. 

The first school district was formed in 1840 with ]\Iarion as its center. After 
that school houses sprang up in every direction. The buildings were constnict«d 
oTit of logs; the seats were benches hewn from slabs or logs, and so were the desks. 

Colleges early sprung up in the county. Of the three that flourished here 
more or less at one time, the history of two — Cornell and Coe — are given at 
length. These institutions are now* in splendid condition. 

The third institution that iu its day w-as a power for excellence in educational 
lines was Westeni. founded in 1856 on the ])orders of Johnson county at the 
little town of Western, in College township. Of this institution the late Jesse A. 
Runkle, some years ago, wrote as follows: 

"In January, 1856, Iowa City became the western terminus of the only rail- 
road in the state, and no other was built within a couple of years. The fine 
comitry surrounding Western, would easily lead one to believe that the earlj' 




SHOWING THB TWO CESSIONS AS AT PRESENT DIVIDED 



198 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

plan was feasible, to make the school an industrial one, where deser\ing young 
men could make their way through school by devoting some of their time to agri- 
cultural work. But Western was unfortunate in two things : First, none of the 
railroads that were built in Iowa, ever came near the town. It seems as if a 
Nemesis had brooded over the place, for even the interurban now being built 
between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City swerves from a direct line, and misses both 
Western and Shueyville by about a mile. Second, the surrounding country 
began to be possessed by a population that in the main had little or no sj-mpathy 
with religious education, and the older generations were alien in thought and 
temper to our American institutions. These things made the task of maintain- 
ing the college at that point a most heroic and arduous work." 

After some years of struggle, the college was removed to Toledo, where it 
now wields an influence second to none in the state. 

One of the early educational centers in Linn county was the private school 
established in 1850 in the Greene Bros, block, which stood on the corner of First 
street and First avenue. Cedar Rapids, where now stands the building owned 
by Sunshine liission. It wa.s founded by I\Iiss Elizabeth Calder, a native of New 
York, and who in 1855 married R. C. Rock, the first hardware dealer in the 
citj% who came here from Burlington and whose place of business was located 
on First street a few doors south of the comer of First avenue. This school 
prospered and was conducted by Miss Calder for four years when it was dis- 
continued. 

One of the first, if not the very first, teacher in Cedar Rapids was Miss 
Susan Abbe, daughter of the old pioneer. She taught in this city in 1846, the 
superintendent being Alexander Ely. 

Miss Emma J. Fordyce, at present a teacher in the Cedar Rapids high school, 
contributes to this work the following sketch of early schools in the eoimty, and 
more particularly in the city of Cedar Rapids : 

"It is not often in this changing countrj' that a person lives a lifetime in 
one community and sees the schools grow from their beginning. This has hap- 
pened to me. Of the eai'ly coiuitry schools but two memories remain : a visit 
in the summer, and one in the winter. There remains an impression of very 
homely school houses, equally homely surroundings, and very little comfort 
without or within. It is a stimdiug wonder that even now an Iowa farmer is 
much more likely to provide an up-to-date fine building for his cattle than a 
beautiful, well-ordered school-house for the education of his children. A little 
has been done, but by far too little. 

' ' Early Cedar Rapids was a little village surrounded b,y groves of oaks, crab- 
apple, plum, and everj^vhere the climbing wild grape. Between these groves 
were the sand hills on which grew vast quantities of sand-burs. Where the 
Methodist church now stands was a hill which sloped toward the railroad. Where 
the old Presbyterian church was. the children coasted down "Pepper Grass Hill;" 
and where Mr. Crozer's florist establishment is, was a deep and wide pond 
which, on occasions of heavy rain, furnished water for rafts made from bits of 
sidewalk. 

"The earliest school was on the site of the present Gran by building, but of 
that school I have no personal Icnowledge. The first school building in my mem- 
ory was the three-story one which was erected in 1856. It had a white cupalo, 
white trimmings to the windows, with a high, solid board fence, painted red, 
surrounding it. An iron pump at the side furnished refreshment to the spirit 
and ammunition for the wetting of people. On the lower floor on the side next 
the railroad, Miss Elizabeth Shearer taught the children. She was a woman 
of fine family, fine attainments, and of great patience of spirit. Superintendent 



THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY 199 

Ingalls was in charge of tbe school at that time. C. W. Burton followed him the 
next year. His school hoard wjis A. C Cimrchill, president; Hcnjamin Harri- 
son, treasurer; J. W. Henderson, vice-president ; I). A. Hradley. si'cretary. These 
were assisted tiy tiiree direct<)i-s, J. F. Charles, \V. W. Siiiitli. K. Iv Leach. 
Mr. Harrison had a uniipie way of colleeting taxes from the delin(|uent foreiffn 
citizens to whom our system of coile<'tin}.t them was a dark puzzle; when they 
refused to pay, he notified them that on a eert-ain day if the ta.xes were not forth- 
coming, he would sell everything they had and apply the proceeds to tax pay- 
ment. The auction was often begun, hut never finished, as the taxes were always 
forthcoming. 

"Mrs. E. .1. Lund was one of the earliest of Cedar Rapids teaehei-s. For 
many years her inspiring example and her patient work developed good children 
out of had. and she finished her life's work by taking care of all the poor and un- 
fortunate of the countv. The Cedar Rapids superintendents were Professor 
Humphrey. 1861-4, Professor Ingalls, 1864-5, C. W. Burton. 1860-70, J. E. Har- 
lan, now i)resident of Cornell. 1S70-5. F. H. Smith, the latter part of 1875. 
J. W. Akers, 1875-81, W. M. Friesner, 1881-5, L. T. Weld, 1885-6, J. P. Hend- 
rick.i, 1886-90, J. T. Jferrill. 1890-1901, J. J. McConnell, 1901 — . twelve men in 
thirty-four years. The list shows plainly the growing tendency to keep a super- 
intendent for long periods at a time. 

"The high school principals show the same tendency; A. Wetherhy, from 
1870-1, E. C. Ehersole. 1872-78. W. A. Olmsted. 1871-2, Miss ^[ar^' A. Robinson, 
1873-86, Miss A. S. Abbott, 1886 — . 

"The original high school building contained four rooms. In 1876 it had a 
corps of three teachers: Miss M. A. Robinson. Miss E. J. Meade, Miss Estella 
V''erden, and had an attendance of 106 pupils; it now has twenty teachers with 
an attendance of 838 pupils. In 1876 there were five buildings in the city; 
there are now sixteen. Of the teachers thirty-one in number in 1876, there are 
two left: Miss Emma Forsythe and Jliss Emma J. Fordyce. In 1876 the total 
number of pupils handled by thirty-one teachers was 1,752. In 1911, with 181 
teachers, there are 6.122 pupils, not tpiite six times as many teachers, but showing 
a smaller average number to each teacher. Evidently the school-houses have 
always been crowded, since the superintendent's report of 1876 says: 'We have 
in the school district five school buildings, and these are taxed to their utmost to 
accoiiunodate the pupils aln>ady enrolled.' He also remarks pensively: 'In 
your wi.sdom for the coming year, you have reduced the salarii-s of your teachers, 
and in some cases the reduction has been such that some of your best teachers 
have been compelled to seek emplo.vment elsewhere.' Since no following super- 
intendent makes the same complaint, it is evident that s^'hool boards do improve. 
As to salaries, the salarv- of the su|)erintendent in 1883 is given as $1.0()0; in 
1911 as .'f3,0'^l(l, which means the magnificent increase of $42 a year; not a great 
temptation. The .salaries of the teachers increase in the same period about $25 a 
year. Comment is unnecc.s.sary. 

"As to the high school, the graduates of 1873 to 1885 were but eleven pupils, 
with nine times as many in 1908. Amongst the older and pioneer high school 
teachers were Mr. Wethcrbee. Mi.^s Ella Meade, and Miss Ada Shennan. who 
afterwanl decided to do<'tor bodies instead of minds, as it paid much better. 
Mr. Olmsted, the principal of 1872. who left Cedar liapids in 1873 to found a 
business in Chicago, died a hero. He lost his life in his burning building trying 
to save his bookkeeper. 

"The tendencies in school work are shown bj' the fact that the reports of the 
early superintendents are largel.v lists of members of the school hoard, while the 
later reports give large tiibulations of expense. It is to be regretted that Iowa 
has not adopted a series of uniform reports, giNnng items almost impossible to 



200 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

discover as these reports are at present made out. The older schools report 
seventy-two pupils to a primary teacher. The newer reports are silent on the 
subject. Since efficiency comes in handling the right number of pupils, it would 
certainly be wise to keep a careful account of this item. 

"The courses of the schools show the gro«-th in public service. The courses 
of the high school in 1876 are twenty ; those of the high school in 1910, eighty- 
three. All of the older and more prominent citizens served as school directors 
at one time or another. In 1858 J. L. Enos was president of the board. Freeman 
Smith, secretary. W. W. Smith, vice-president. J. T. Walker, treasurer, W. W. 
Walker, director. In 1859 the names of R. C. Rock, E. H. Stedman, J. P. Coul- 
ter, and J. M. Chambers appear. In 1860, S. C. Koontz, Henrj' Church, W^illiam 
Stewart, J. II. Carabum, and William Richmond served. In 1861, W. W. Smith, 
George M. Howlett, Henry Church, William 11. Jlerritt. A. C. Churchill, and 
S. L. Pollock directed afl'airs. In 1862 E. G. Brown, A. C. Churchill. J. F. Ely, 
George 31. Ilowlett elected Mr. Humphrey superintendent of schools. His rep- 
utation seems to have been that of a man of great strength and the Imd big boys 
stood in awe of him accordingly. C. W. Burton, the superintendent of 1865, was 
noted for his cleverness in mathematics, and his deep interest in horticulture. 

"All of these early directoi*s, superintendents, and teachei-s were hard workers 
and great optimists. History has confirmed that optimism, and from the services 
of these men developed a race of ambitious, energetic, moral citizens to whom the 
pre.sent Cedar Rapids owes a great debt of gratitude."' 

Through the courtesy of County Superintendent .\.lderman we are enabled 
to give below some interesting data regarding our schools : 

In 1873 the number of school corporations in the coiuit\' was 42, increased to 
87 in 1909. The number of ungraded schools in the former year was 178, and 
166 in the latter year. The average number of months the schools were in 
session has increased from 6.6 in 1873 to 8.9 in 1909, and the average compensa- 
tion from $39.78 to $73.50 for males, and from $26.33 to $50.85 for females. The 
number of female teachers employed in 1873 was 244. and in 1909, 503. The num- 
ber of male teachers was 90 and 40 respectively. 

In the matter of attendance there has been a vast betterment. In 1873 there 
were 460 boys and 544 girls between the ages of seven and fourteen not in school. 
In 1909 these numbers were 29 and 17. 

The value of school property in 1873 was $240,105 ; in 1909. $814,300. The 
value of school apparatus was $2,309.50 in 1873. and in 1909. $20,035.25. There 
were in 1873 in the school lil)i-aries 482 volumes, which was increased to 17,079 
in 1909. 

There are now between twenty-five and thirty fine school buildings in the 
country districts. They are modern in all respects, being supplied with slate 
blackboards, hardwood floors, ventilators, cloak rooms, bookcases and cupboards. 
Several have furnaces and cloak rooms in the basements. Some of the buildings 
are supplied with telephones, making it possible for the county superintendent 
and patrons to communicate direct with the school. 

The plans and specifications for these buildings are owned by the county, and 
are furnished gratis to the school districts wishing to build. All of these school- 
houses except two or three are not only provided with libraries, cloak rooms, etc., 
but are also provided with a good organ. 

This year there is being installed a hot air ventilating s.vstem wliich keeps the 
warm air pure, the cold air being taken directly from the outside and passed 
through the hot air radiators before being allowed to enter the school room. 







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CHAPTER XXIII 
Historical Sketch of Cornell College 

BY WILLIAM HARMON NORTON, ALUMNI PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGV, 

CORNELL COLLEGE 

Linn county may well take pride in the history of her oldest school of higher 
education, founded in 1853, when the county held hut 6,000 people. Hut the 
beginniiigpfi of Cornell College are of more than local interest ; they are thoroutihly 
tj'pical of America and of the West. Cornell was founded in ituich the same way 
as were hundreds of American colleges along the ever adviuicing frontier of civil- 
ization from Massachusetts to California — a way which the world had never seen 
before and will never see again. 

THE FOUNDATION AND THE FOUNDER 

Cornell owes its inception to a Methodist circuit rider, the Rev. George B. 
Bowman, a North Carolinian l>y hirth. who came to Iowa from Mi.ssouri in 1841. 
three years after the territorial organization of the commonwealth. This heroic 
pioneer, resourceful, far seeing, and siingiiine of the future, eminent in initiative 
and in the power of compelling others to his plans, was one of those rare men to 
whom the ta.sk of building states is intrusted. He was not himself a college man, 
but with him education was a passion. To found institutions of higher education 
he ciinsidcrfd liis sjjccial mi.s,sion. Hardly had he liecii appi>iiited a.s pastor 
of the church at Iowa City in 1841 when he uiulertook the building of a church 
school, called Iowa City College. In 1845 Rev. James Harlan, a local preacher 
of Indiana, was chosen president, and with one assistant opened the school in 
1846. The next year ^Ir. Harlan was elected state superintendent of public 
instruction, and the college was closed never to be re-opened. It had at least 
served to bring to the state one of its most distinguished citizens, afterward to 
be honored witli the United States .seuatorship and the secretaryship of the interior. 
Meanwhile Mr. Bowman had been appointed presiding elder of the Dubuque 
district, which then included nnich of east-central Iowa. The failure of the pre- 
mature attempt at Iowa City had not discouraged him; he awaited the favorable 
opportunity he still looked for — suitable local conditions for a Christian college 
in the state. It is a long-told legend, even if it be nothing more than legend, that 
when Elder Bownnan came riding on horseback to the Linn Grove circuit, he 
stopped on the crest of the lonely hill on whieh Mount Vernon now stands. From 
its eomiiiaiiding summit vistas of virgin prairie and primeval forest stretched for 
ten and twenty miles away. Here there fell upon him. the circuit preacher, the 
trance and vision of the pro|)hct. He saw the far-olY future; he heard the tramp 
of the multitudes to come. Dismounting, he kneeled do\^^l in the rank prairie 
grass and in prayer to Almighty God consecrated this hill for all time to the cause 
of Christian education. And it is a matter of authentic history that in the spring 
of 18.51 Elder Bowman and Rev. Dr. .\. J. Kynett. in the parsonage at Mount 
Vernon, planned together for the early founding and upbuilding of a Christian 
college on this site. 

With the characferi.stic initiative of the Iowa pioneer. Bowman did not wait 
for authoritj- to be given him by anybody, for articles of incorporation to be 



202 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

drawn up, or even for a title deed to the land on which the college was to stand. 
Early in 1852 he laid his plans for the launching of the school. On the Fourth 
of July of this year an educational celebration was held at Mount Vernon, which 
drew the farmers for miles about the town, and other friends of the new enterprise 
from Jlarion and Cedar Rapids, Anamosa, Dubuque, and Burlington. The ora- 
tion of the day was delivered by State Superintendent Harlan on the theme of 
Education, and at its close ground was broken formally for the first building of 
the college. A mouth later a deed was obtained for the land and the following 
September the guardianship of the infant school was accepted under the name of 
the Iowa Conference Seminary, by the Methodist Episcopal church. 

In this highly democratic manner Cornell College was founded by the people 
as an institution of higher learning, which should ever be of the people and for 
the people. It was bom on the anniversary of the nations 's natal day, and was 
to remain one of the highest expressions of patriotism and civic life. Christened 
by the head of the educational interests of the young commonwealth, supported by 
its citizens, protected by a charter from the state, and exempt as a beneficent insti- 
tution of the state from contributing by taxation to the support of other institu- 
tions, the college was thus begun as a state school in a very real sense. 

One can not read the early archives of the college without the profoimdest 
admiration for the pioneers its founders. Avid of education to a degree pathetic, 
they depended on no beaurocracy of church or state ; they waited for no foreign 
philanthropy to supply their educational needs. They laid the foiuidations of 
their colleges with the same free, independent, self-sufiSeing spirit with which they 
laid their hearthstones, and they laid both at the same time. 

THE IOWA CONFERENCE SEMINARY 

In January, 1853, the first meeting of the-board of trustees was held, and in 
the fall of the same year the school was opened in the old Methodist church at 
IMount Vernon. Before the end of the terui a new edifice on the campus was so 
far completed that it was available for school purposes and "on the morning of 
November 14, 1853, the school met for the last time in the old cluirch and after 
singing and prayer the students were formed in line and walked in procession 
^^^th banners fi.ying, led by the teachers, through the village, and took formal 
possession of what was then declared to be a large and commodious building."* 

The first catalog — a little time-stained pamphlet of fifteen pages — lists the 
follownng faculty : 

Rev. Samuel M. Fellows. A. M., professor of mental and moral science and 
belle lettres. 

Rev. David II. Wheeler, professor of languages. 

Miss Catherine A. Fortner, preceptress 

Miss Sarah L. Matson, assistant. 

Mrs. Olive P. Fellows, teacher of painting and embroidery. 

Mrs. Sophia E. Wheeler, teacher of instrumental music. 

The first board of trustees is also noteworthy : 

Rev. George B. Bowman, president. IMount Vernon ; E. D. "Wain, Esq., secre- 
tary. Mount Vernon; Rev. H. W. Reed. Centerville; Rev. E. W. Twining. Iowa 
Citj^ ; Rev. J. B. Taylor. Mount Vernon ; Jesse Holman. North Sugar Grove ; Henry 
Kepler, North Sugar Grove; William Hayzlett, Mount Vernon; A. I. Willits, 
Mount Vernon. 

The roster of students enrolls 104 gentlemen, and 57 ladies. Among them are 
familiar and honored names, .some of which are to reappear in all later catalogs 
of the school, either as students of the .second and third genei'ation, or as trustees 
and members of faculty. Four Rigbys, for example, were students in 1853. In 

• Rev. Dr. S. N. Fellows, A Record of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Cornell College, p. 91. 



HlSTORirAT. SKETCTT OF CORNELL COLLEGE 203 

1910 the catalog lists three Rigbys, one a student and two members of the faculty. 
The first i-utalog contains the names of no less than nine Kcpiers as students, six 
stalwart youn;^ men from North Sugar Grove and their three sisters. Four Wains 
are enrolled from Mount Vernon, two Farleys from Dubuque and two Reeders 
from Red Dak. 

In 1853 the population of the entire state was only ai)out 30(),(K)0. Not a rail- 
way had been projected west of the Mississippi river. And yet the scattered set- 
tlements sent across the iml)n)ken prairie and the unhridged rivers no less than 
lt)l students to the young school on this the first year of its existence. The most 
imjxirtant route to Mount Vernon was the militarj' road extending from I)ul)ui|ue 
Ui Iowa City. Hotii towns i-oiitributed their quota of stiulents, l)ubu<|ue sending 
no less than twelve, although the entire population of Dubu(|ue county was then, 
less than 16.0(X). Considering the difHculty of communications, the poverty of 
the |)ioneers, tiie wide extent of the sphere of influence of the school is remarkable. 
Students were drawn this first year from as far to the northeast as Elkader and 
Garnavillo. They came from Dycrsville and Independence, from Quasqueton 
and Vinton, from Marengo, ("olumhus City, West Liberty, and Burlington. Mus- 
catine alone st>nt seven students. This iu\vt\ was at the time the point of sui)i)ly 
for .Moiuit Vernon, and the materials for the first building of the college except 
such as Ux-al saw mills and brick kilns eoidd supply were hauled from that river 
port.* Students came also from Davenport, Le Claire, Princeton, and Hhie Gra.ss 
in Seott county, from Comanche, and from the pioneer settlements of La Motte and 
Canton in Jackson county. The eight hundred students of Cornell today reach 
the school from all parts of the state and the ad.iacent portions of our neighboring 
states by a few hours swift and comfortable ride by rail. But who shall picture 
in detail the long and adventurous journeys in ox cart and pioneer wagon and 
perchance often on foot of the boys and girls of ISSS — the climbing of steep hills, 
the fording of rivers, the miring in abysmal sloughs, the succession of mile after 
mile of undidating treeless prairie carpeted with gorgeous flowers stretching 
imbroken to the horizon, the camp at night illumitiated by distant prairie fires, 
until at last ;i boat shaped hill surinountc<l by a lonely red brick building 
lifts itself above the horizon, and the goal of the long journey is in view ! 

Xo doubt there were other hardships awaiting these students after their ar- 
rival. Rule Xo. 1 of the new school compelled their rising at five o'clock in the 
morning. They were expected to furnish their own beds, lights, mirrors, etc., 
when boarding in Seminarj- Hall. It is interesting to note that they i)aid for 
tuition .$4. 00 and .$.^.00 per quarter, and for board from $1.50 tn $1.75 per week. 
The next year the steward's petition to the board ()f trustees that he be allowed 
to put three students in each of the little rooms was granted with the proviso 
"that he furnish suitable bunks for the .same." The catalog's statement regard- 
ing apparat\is is a gimrded one: "The Institution is furnished with apparatus 
for illustrating some of the most import.int principles of Xatural Science. As 
the wants of school demand, additions will be made to this a|>parafus. " And that 
regarding the lil)rary is wholly prophetic: "It is intended to procure a good 
selection of readable and instructive books, by the commcnceuient of the next 
academic year, to which the students will have access at a trifling expen.se. With 
these books as a nucleus, a good library will l)e accumidated as rapidly as possible. 
Donations of qond books are .solicited from friends of the institution." In the 
next catalog it is stated that "a small but go<Hl selection of readahh and inslnic- 
tive books has been procured," the remainder of the statement being the sjime 

• The pioneer settlements about Mount Vernon had sent several flat txiats down the Cedar 
•nd MissRsippi to New Orleans with cargoes of wheat, corn and potatoes. With the proceeds 
of sale of boats and cargo, sufirar, molasses and other jjoods were purchased and shippcil by 
steamers to Muscatine. Col Robt Smyth was one of those who thus made the voyaRe from 
Stony Point, three miles south of Mount Vernon, to New Orleans. 



204 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

as that of the first year. This statement appeared without change in all succeed- 
ing catalogs during the remainder of the first decade. 

THE FIRST DECADE 

As early as 1855 the articles of incorporation were amended changing the 
name of the institution to Cornell College, in honor of W. W. Cornell and his 
brother J. B. Cornell, of New York City, men prominent in business and widely 
known for their benevolences to various enterprises of the church. It will be 
noted that C'ornell College was thus named several years before the founding by 
Ezra Cornell, of Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y. 

The first year of the school imder the new collegiate i-egime was that of 1857- 
1858. Rev. R. W. Keeler of the Upper Iowa Conference was made president, 
Principal Fellows of the Seminary taking the professorship of Latin. Two j'ears 
later President Keeler reentered the more congenial work of the ministry, and 
Principal Fellows was elected president of the college, a position which he held 
most acceptably until his death on the duy after commencement June 26. 1863, 
thus completing a full decade of years of service in the school. 

President Fellows had come to Cornell from the Rock River Seminary at jMount 
Morris. His character and the qualit}' of his work left lasting impressions on his 
pupils at both institutions. Thus Hon. Robert R. Hitt, of Illinois, writes of him 
as follows: "He was a diligent, acute, and active student, and his personal 
character was admirable. It is the fortune of few men to exercise so wide and 
prominent an influence from a position which, to the ambitious, is not considered 
eminent." And Senator Shelby ]\I. Culloni has written: "I regard Professor 
Fellows as one of the best men I ever knew. I said it when I was under him at 
school, and now that I am over seventy years of age. I say it now. He was strong, 
honest-hearted, full of kindness, and a splendid teacher." 

His coUeag-ue at Cornell, Dr. David H. Wheeler, descrilied him as "a man 
sweet-spirited, pure-minded, of fine executive ability, a rarely qualified teacher, 
a patient sufferer, a tireless worker, a model friend." 

A word may be .said as to the members of President Fellows 's faculty: 

Miss Catharine A. Fortner, a graduate of Cazeno\aa Seminarj-, N. Y., was sent 
out in 1851 by Governor Slade, of Vermont, as a missionary teacher to Iowa. Her 
success near Tipton was so marked that she was chosen as the first preceptress of 
the institution. In 1857 she resigned to marrj' Rev. Rufus Ricker, of the Upper 
Iowa Conference. 

Wm. H. Barnes, professor of languages in 1854-1855, resigned to accept a 
professorship in Baldwin University, Ohio, and is kno\\'n as author of several 
works in history and politics. 

His successor, Rev. B. "W. Smith, after leaving the school in 1857 became pas- 
tor of several of the largest churches in northern Indiana, and president of Val- 
paraiso College. 

Dr. David II. Wlieeler, professor of languages in 1853-1854, and professor of 
Greek from 1857 to 1861, when he was appointed U. S. consul to Genoa, was a 
brilliant and versatile man. author of a number of books, professor for eight 
years at Northwestern University, editor for eight years of the New York Metho- 
dist, and for nine years president of Allegheny College. 

Tile brother of JPresidcnt Fellows, Dr. Stephen N. Fellows, has a large place in 
the educational histor^^ of Iowa. He assisted his brother in laying the foundation 
of Cornell College, being professor of mathematics from 1854 to 1860, and later 
occupied the chair of mental and moral science and didactics at the State Uni- 
versity of Iowa for twenty years. 

On account of her long connection with the college, from 1857 to 1890. I\Iiss 
Harriette J .Cooke exerted a more potent influence on the institution than any 



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A STREET SCENE IN MARION 




THE DANIELS HOTEL, MARION 



HISTORTCAI. SKETCH OF ("OHXEI.I. ('(>LI.E(iR JO.-j 

of her colleajrufs of tin- first dwade. Miss Cooke eaiiie to Cornell from Ilopkintun, 
Massachusetts, and hrought the hest eiilture for women whieh N'ew En^jland then 
afforded, as well as au exceptionally forceful personality, and rare natural apti- 
ttides for lier profession. From ISHO to the time of her resijjnation she was dean 
of women, and her intiiience for good on the thousands of younj; women under 
her care is incalculable. After loni; service as an instructor she was made a full 
professor in 1871. the first woman in America, it has In-en said, to he thus honored. 
Her chair for fifteen years wjus history and German, and after 1886 history and 
the science of government. On leaving the college she studied the methods of 
deaconess work in England, wmte a book upon the subject, and returning to her 
native land became one of tiie leaders in this new department of .social service. 
For many years slu' has been clo.sely connected with the I'liivcrsity Settlement of 
Boston. On the recent celebration of her eightieth birthday she received hundreds 
of letters of loving cougrafiilatiou from her former students of Cornell, and each 
of these letters was answered by her painstakingly and at length. 

The first ten years of the in.stiftifion were marked by a singularly ra|)id growth, 
considering the fact that they included the darkest days of the Civil war. when 
nearly ever>- male student was drawn from the college halls to the service of his 
country. At the end of the decade the faculty numbered eight professors and 
instructors, and 375 students were enrolled, fifty-one of whom were in college 
classes, the largest enrollment of collegiate students in the state, unless at the 
State University. The as.sets of the institution amounted to $50,000 in notes and 
pledges, a campus of fifteen acres^ and two l)rick buildings which compared not 
unfavorably with other college buildings in the west and with the earlier halls 
of Uarvard. 

In a large measure this exceptional growth was due to Elder Bowman, to his 
initiative and wide and powerful influence. The chief problem then as now was 
one of siLstenance, and as a college beggar Bowman was incomparable. He trav- 
elled over the settled portions of the state, winning men to his cause by a singular 
personal charm, and enticing even out of poverty money, promissorj' notes at 
altitudinous rates of interest, farm produce, live stock and poultry, hou.sehold 
furniture and jewelry. His barnyard at Mount Vernon was continually stocked 
with horses, cattle, and chickens — votive offerings to the cause of higher educa- 
tion. A citizen of the town once told me how under some mesmeric influence he 
bought at high price from Elder Bownmn an old book case and coal .scuttle, 
begged somewhere for the school. This prince of college beggars once returned 
from Dubuque with a silver watch which he had plundered off the person of an 
eminent minister of that city. 

FROM 1863 TO 1910 — GROWTH IX RESOURCES 

Nothing is so tame as the history of a college once the interesting period of its 
childhood is over, and the history of Cornell is exceptionally uneventful among 
colleges. No building has been destroyed by fire or tornado. No famous lawsuit 
against the s^-hool has been defendi'd by !<ome Webster among the alunuii. None 
of the faculty has won notoriety by sensational speech or erratic morals. 

The salient feature of the forty-seven yi-ars since 1863 is a marvelous growth 
unparalleled in some respects in the history of education. The campus has been 
enlarged by addition after addition until now it mea.sures sixty acres, including 
the larger part of the long hill and wide athletic fields along its northern ba.se. 
To th(> two first buildings, -still used, one for the chemical, biological and physical 
laboratories and the other for cla.ss rooms and society halls, tlu're have been added 
South Hall, built in 1873 and now u.sed for the engineering and geolocical labora- 
tories; the Chapel, completed in 1882. a stately Oothic structure of stone, con- 
taining the auditorium, seating about 1.500. a snudler audience room, tlie museum. 



20G HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

and several miisie rooms ; Bowman Hall, built in 1885, as the well appointed home 
of ninety-two young women ; tlie library dedicated in 1905, the gift of Andrew 
Carnegie; the alumni gymnasium in Ash Park, built in 1909, a noble structure, 
one of the largest of the kind in the state, besides several minor buildings used for 
allied schools and professors 's residences 

The material equipment has made a phenomenal growth, until several of the 
scientific laboratories are reckoned among the best in the Central West, and the 
library, numbering 35,000 volumes, ranks as third in size among the university 
and college libraries in the state, and .second to but one of the city libraries of 
Iowa. The museum includes several collections which rank among the largest 
in the west: the Kendig collection of minerals, the Norton collection of fossils, 
and the Powers collection in American anthropology. 

GROWTH IN ATTENDANCE 

From the beginning Cornell has been a relatively large school measured by the 
number of its students, and its growth the last decades forbids it longer to be 
called a small college. Indeed, for many years it has maintained its place as the 
largest denominational college, or among the two or tlirce largest, in the Ignited 
States west of the Great Lakes, reckoned by the number of students of collegiate 
rank. The attendance has steadily risen until, in 1909-1910, 741 students were 
enrolled, 450 of them being in the college of liberal arts. The steady growth in 
numbers of collegiate students evidences the satisfaction which the school has 
given to its patrons, and an ever widening influence and power. Moreover, it 
has increased the efficiency of the .school by the inspiration of numbers and the 
intensity of competition in all departments of 'college life. By bringing together 
students from all parts of the state and scores from other states, some with the 
polish of the city and others with the sturdy strength of the country, it has escaped 
the narrowness of the provincial and has attained something akin to cosmopolitan- 
ism. 

To make Cornell an institution state-wide in its patronage and influence was 
the evident purpose of its founders. Nothing was further from their minds than 
a local college for the students of a town or county, or one drawing its patronage 
from a few contiguous comities. The trustees have been chosen widely over the 
state and the attendance from all parts of Iowa has been surprisingly large, con- 
sidering the many excellent colleges the state supports. In an investigation made a 
few years since of the geographic distribution of the students it was found that 41 
per cent of the collegiate students came from beyond the borders of the patron- 
izing conference, and the counties west and south of the Des Moines river furn- 
ished 20 per cent of the students in attendance from the state. The college has 
thus grown to have a state-wide field. 

THE STRATEGIC POSITION 

In explaining the growth of Cornell college we must recognize, of coui-se. that 
it has grown up with the country. We must relate the growth of the school di- 
rectl.v to the material prosperity of this land of corn and swine, to the marvel- 
ously fertile soil and to the era of expansion in which our history falls. The fact 
remains, however, that the college has obtained somehow a good deal more than its 
due share in the general advance. WhiK^ the population of the state increased 
330 per cent from 1860 to 1900, the collegiate attendance at Cornell increased 720 
per cent. The college has gro\vn more than twice as fast as has tlie state, and that 
notwithstanding the numerous good schools which have sprung up to share its 
patronage. 

We can not doubt that much of the success of the school has been due to its 
strategic position. It is located in a subi;rban town of the chief railway center of 



TriS'n^KICAL SKETCH OF rOHNHIJ. i'OJA.VAlK 207 

eastern Iowa. From Cedar Rapids Umg iron ways, like the spokes of a wheel, 
reach in all directions to the limits of the state and beyond, and brin{» every por- 
tion of the commonwealth and the ad.jacent parts of our neitrhi)oring states within 
a few hours ride of Cornell collefre. It is located also in east Central Iowa, an 
area of the state the first to be settled and developed, an area surpassed by none 
in the fertility of its soils, and the wealth which has been i)roduced from tiicm. 
To the.se ^eofjraphic factors, advantages shared in like degree by none of the early 
competitors of the school, we may assign a place similar to that given such factors 
in cxj)laining the growth of New York city and of Pitt.sburg. 

While the college had thus had the city's advantages of communication and 
markets because of its nearness to Cedar Rajiids. it Idus retained all the peculiar 
advantages wliich inhere in a location in a village Like Howdoin. Dartmouth, 
and Oberlin, Cornell has found in the small town, rather than in the city, an 
ideal college environment. It has never permitted the i)rescnce of saloon or other 
hamitof vice. The citizens with whom the students have made their homes have 
been people of culture drami to the tflwii by its educational advantages. In all 
that makes for the intellectual life, in libraries and collections, in lectures and 
good music, and church privileges. Mount Vcriion has had more to offer than 
perhaps any city of the state; while the temptations and distractions, the round 
of low amusements offered by the city, have been fortunately absent. 

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

More than geographic location, it is great men and great plans that make 
great schools. Let us give much credit therefore to the men who ha%'e administered 
the college as members of its board of trustees. Our debt to them is like thnt of 
Michigan I'niversity to its board of regents whose wise ])lans pushed it early to 
the fore among the state universities of the west and far in advance of the place 
to which geographic causes alone would have assigned it. Some of these were 
pioneers of only local fame, such as Eli,jah I). Wain, Henry D. Albright, William 
ilayzlett, Jesse Ilolinan, Noah McKean, and Dr. G. L, Carhart, men whose memorj' 
will ever be cherished in Mount Vernon. Others were men of note in the early 
history of the state, such as Hon. Hiram l*rice. of Davenport, Jesse Farley, of 
Dubu(|ue. and A. P. Ilosford and W. H. Liuit, of Clinton. Especially to be noted 
is the long .si>rvice wliich the trustees have given to the school. Of the members 
of the executive committee Col. Robert Smyth, .sturdy Scotch Presbyterian, was 
a member for twenty-eight years until his death in 180(). On the .same committee 
Hon. W. F. Johnston, of Toledo, long president of the board, has already served 
for thirty-three years. Col. II. II. Rood, another of the members of the executive 
committee, has served continuously as trustee since 1SG7, and Capt. E. H. Soper, 
of Kmmetsliurg. since 1878. Captain Soper has long been one of the most influ- 
ential members of the governing board, and it is to his initiative and faith that the 
alumni gymnasium is due. Dr. J. I». Alll)roiik has served since 1874. H. A. Collin 
was treasurer of the college from 1800 to his death in 18!)2. Hon. D. N. Cooley, of 
Dubuque, .served as trustee for twenty-four years, and Hon, W. J. Young, of 
Clinton, for twenty-six years, their terms of oflRce being terminated only by death. 
Of the present board of trustees there may be named as among those longest in 
service. F. H. Anustrong, of f!hicago; Hun. W. C. Stuckslager, of Lisbon; E. J. 
E.spat<'. of .Marion; .Maj. E. H. Hay ward, of Davenpurt ; Hon. Eugene Seeor, of 
F'orest City; Dr. Edward T. Devine, of New York; T. J. H. Robinson, of Hamp- 
ton; John H. Blair, of Dcs Mi.ines; Rev, W. W. Carlton, of Ma.son City; Rev. E. 
J. Lo<'kwood and John II. Taft, of Cedar Rapids; Hon. Leslie M. Shaw, of Phil- 
adcl|)hiH : R. J. Alexander, of Waukon : E. H. Willix. of Mount Vernon; Senator 
Edgar T. Hrackett, of Saratoga. N. Y. ; O. P. Miller, of Rixk Ra|.ids: Rev. 
Homer C. Stuntz, of Madison, N. J., and N'. G. Van Sant. of Sterling, 111. 



208 HISTORY OF LINX COUNTY 

Among the eminent men who have served the college we must give special 
mention to Rev. Alpha J. Kynett, one of the pioneers of ilethodism west of the 
^lississippi, who served on the board from 1865 to his death in 1899. Dr. Kynett 
was the founder of the great Church Extension society and for many years was 
its chief executive. In this capacity he probably built more churches than any 
man who has ever lived. For a tliird of a century he was a close friend and ad- 
viser of the college, and all his wide experience and his ability as an organizer 
and financier were always at its service. 

THE .\DMIXISTR.ATION 

In 1868 occurred the sad death of President Fellows, under whose superin- 
tendence the school had been organized. He was succeeded in office by "William 
Fletcher King, a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University and a member of its 
faculty, who thus brought to Cornell an acqviaintance with the scope and methods 
of one of the best colleges of the middle west. At the time of his election to the 
presidency Dr. King was professor of Latin and Greek at Cornell, and thus for the 
' second time a president was chosen from the ranks of those aetivelj' engaged in the 
work of higher education rather than, as was then almost universally the custom, 
from those of another profession. In 1908 Dr. King resigned his office after a 
term of service of forty -five years. For a number of years he had thus been the 
oldest college president in the United States in the duration of his office. His 
administration was essentially a business administration, with little talk but 
much of doing. There was in it nothing spectacular, and no pretense, or sham. 
No discourteous act ever strained friendly relations with other schools. Dr. King 
made no enemies and no mistakes. He was ever tactful, poised, discreet, far-see- 
ing, winning men to the support of his wise and well-laid plans but never forcing 
their acceptance. The college itself is a monument to this successful business 
administration. For Cornell does not owe its success to any munificent gifts. 
Like John Harvard. W. W. Cornell and his brother left the college which perpet- 
uates their memories little more than a good name and a few good books. No 
donation of more than .$25,000 was received until more than forty years of the 
history of the college had elapsed. Whatever excellence the college has attained 
is due to the .skill and patience of its builders and not to any unlimited or even 
large funds at their disposal. 

On the resignation of Dr. King, the presidency passed to his logical successor. 
Dr. James Elliott Harlan, who had served as vice president of the college since 
1881. He had long had the management and investment of the large funds of the 
college and the administration of the .school in its immediate relations with the 
students. Just, sympathetic, patient, he had won the esteem of all connected 
with the college, and to him was largel.v due the exceptional tranquillity which 
the college had enjoyed in all its intimate relations. Dr. Harlan was graduated 
from Cornell College in 1869. For three years he was superintendent of the 
schools of Cedar Rapids, and for one year he held a similar place at Sterling. 
111. From here he was called to the alumni profes.sorship of mathematics in 
Cornell College. The larger part of his life has thus been bound up inextricably 
\dth the school. He knows and is known and loved by all the alumni and old 
students. The first year of his administration was signalized by the erection of 
the new alumni gymnasium, and the second by the conditional gift by the general 
educational board of $100,000.00 to its endowment funds. 

The dean of the college since 1902 has lieen Professor H. IT. Freer, a graduate 
of the school of the class of 1869. and a member of the faculty since 1870. Dean 
Freer was one of the first men in Iowa to see the need of schools of education in 
connection with colleges and vmiversities and was placed at the head of such a 
school^ the normal department of Cornell — early in the '70s. As has recently 




REV. SAMUEL M. FELLOWS, A. M. 
First President Cornell Collej;e 



HISI'OKMCAL SKI-;T('II OF (.'UKXHIJ. COLI-KGP: •_'()!» 

been said of him by Pres. II. 11. ScitIi-.v. of Iowa Tcaclicrs ("(lUcfrc, "liis coiiiuH-tion 
with teacher ediu"atit)ii i.s prohaljjy uuexeeMed iu Iowa educational history and no 
tribute that ean he paid eould do justice to his faithful endeavors." Dean Freer 
has been most intimately connected with tlie administration for many years. In 
1873 he orjjani/.ed the alumni, with the help of Rev. Dr. J. H. Albrook. for the 
endowment of a profe.ssorsiiip. At that time tliere were but KW liviufr {rrad>iates. 
forty-seven of wliom were women. Of tlie men. only thirty-eifrht liad been out 
of college more than three years. Yet this audacious enterprise was carried 
throu<rh to eomjilete success and was followed by the endowment of a second 
alumni chair. In ail of the great financial campaigns Dean Freer has l)een indis- 
pensible. and the moneys he has sci-ured to the college amount to hundreds of 
thoiLsjuids of dollars. More than this, by his wide accpiaintance throughout the 
state and by his cordial friendship with all old students, he lias been one of the 
chief representatives of the college annuul whom its friends have ever rallied. 
Since 1887 he has been professor of political economy in the collegi'. and now w- 
cupies the David Joyce eluiir of economics and sociologj'. 

THE FACULTY 

Of the nearly 300 teachers who liave been enrolled in the faculties of the 
college there is space for the mention of but few names: Dr. Alonzo Collin, who 
began by teaching all the .sciences and mathematics in the young school in 18G0, 
and resigned in 1906 as professor of physics; Dr. Hugh Boyd, professor of Latin 
from 1871 to 1906; Prof. S. X. Williams, head of the school of civil engineering 
since 1873; Prof. George 0. Curnie, profes.s<n' of German from 1884 to 1897, now 
a member of the faculty of Northwestern University ; Dr. W. S. Ebersole, pro- 
fessor of Greek since 1892; Dr. James A. James, profes,sor of history from 1893 
to 1897. now teaching in Northwestern I'r.iversity ; Prof. II. M. Kelley. professor 
of biologA- since 1894; Dr. Thomas Nicholson, professor of the English liibie from 
1894 to 1904, now general educational secretary of the M. E. church; Dr. F. A. 
Wood, professor of German from 1897 to 1903, now member of the faculty of 
University of Chicago; Prof. Mary Burr Norton, alumni professor of mathematics, 
who.s«> connection with the faculty dates from 1877; Dr. II. C. Stanclift. profes.sor 
of history since 1899; Dr. Nicholas Knight, profes.sor of chemistiy since 1899; 
Dr. George II. Betts, p.sychology. who entered the faculty in 1902; Prof. C. D. Stev- 
ens. English literature, since 1903; Prof. C. II. Kcyes. (Jerman. since 1903; Miss 
Marj' L. McLeod. dean of women, since 190(>; Prof. John E. Stout, educatiim, 
since 1903. 

The continuity, the long terms of service of the administrative ofhcei's ami 
the profes.sors. can hardl.v be too strongly emphasized as a potent factor in the 
^owth of the college. If the history of the school had seen a rapid succession 
of difTerent presidents and freipient changes of faculty, if there had Ix-en changes 
in plans and puri)o.ses. factions and struirgles. and the loss of friends which .such 
struggles entail, if the power of tlu' machinery had been wasted in internal friction 
we may he sure that the storj- of the college would have been far other than it is. 

THE ALUMNI 

The graduates of Cornell now number 1.446. This small army of educated 
men and wonu'n have scattered widely over all the state's of the \uiion and to many 
foreign countries. They have entered many vocations. The profession rei'civ- 
ing the largest numluT is tea<-hing. Of the 1,139 graduates including the class 
of 1905. reported in the catalog of 1908. nincfy-sevcii have been engaged in 
teaching in I'olleges anil universities, and 16") in secondary aiul normal schools. 
One hundred and fortv-nine have entered the law. and 139 have entered the 



210 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

ministry. Business and banking were the employments of 113. Medicine has 
been the choice of forty -nine, and engineering and architecture of fifty-two. The 
foreign missionary field has claimed thirty-four, and social service in charity or- 
ganization societies, deaconess work, social settlements, and the Y. i\I. C. A. and the 
Y. W. C. A have engaged twenty-six. Thirtj'-two have engaged in farming, 
and twenty-six in newspaper work. The women graduates of the school very 
largely have been induced to enter the profession of matrimony. Up to 1876, 
for example, ninety per cent of the alumnae had married. Of later years the 
larger opportunities for professional service, opening for women, and no doubt 
other general causes, have decreased the percentage, but of all women graduates 
up to the year 19Q0, seventy per cent have married. Of these forty-two per cent 
have married graduates of the college. The common error that college educa- 
tion lessens the opportunities of woman for her natural vocation is disproved, at 
least so far as Cornell college is concerned. The marriages of the graduates of 
Cornell have been singularly fortunate. Among the more than 1,400 alunmi, 
there has been so far as known but two divorces. Considermg the high per- 
centages of di\orce in the states of the Union, rising as high in some states as one 
divorce to eveiy six marriages, the divorcelcss history of the Cornell alumni wit- 
nesses the sociologic value of the Christian co-educational college. 

In numbers the graduating clas.ses have steadily increased. The first class, 
that of 1858, consisted of two members, Mr. and Mrs. ilatthew Cavanaugh, of 
Iowa City. Classes remained small, never exceeding five, until the close of the 
Civil war when the young men who had entered the ser\'ice of their coimtry, and 
who survived the war, returned to school. In 1867 eleven were graduated, and in 
1869 the. class numbered twenty-two. The last decade the graduating class from 
the college of liberal arts has averaged sixty. 

CORNELL AND THE WAR FOR THE UNION 

President Charles W. Elliot, in one of his educational addresses, after enumer- 
ating what the community must do for the college, asks, "And what will the 
college do for the community? It will make rich returns of learning, of poetry, 
and of piety, and of that fine sense of civic duty without which republics are 
impossible." That Cornell has made all these returns -in ample measure is 
shown by the roster of the alumni with its many eminent names in the service of 
state and church. More than fifteen thousand young men and women have left 
the college halls carrying with them for the enrichment of the commmiity stores 
of learning, poetic ideals of life, and vital piety. The fine sense of civic dutj' 
which the college breeds finds special illustration in the crisis of the Civil war, 
and here we may quote the eloquent words of Colonel Harry H. Rood in an 
address delivered at the Semi-Centennial of the college in 1904 : 

' ' The first seven and a half years in the history of this college was a period of 
struggle and embarrassment. The spring of 1861 seemed to be the l)eginning 
of brighter days. A railway had brovight it in touch with the outer world, and 
the effects of the great financial panic of 1857 were passing, enabling the sons 
and daughters of the pioneers to enter its halls to secure the education they so 
greatly desired. The sky of hope was quickly overcast, and the storm cloud of 
the Civil war, which had been gathering for half a century-, burst over the land. 
The students of Cornell were not surprised or alarmed. The winter preceding 
they had organized a mock congress with every state represented, in which all 
the issues of the coming conflict were fully discussed and understood. . . The 
first regiment the young state sent out to preserve the Union had in its ranks a 
company from this county — one-third of the names upon its muster rolls were 
students from this school. The first full company to go from this toivnship into 



IITSTORTCAL SKETCH OF CORNELL COLLEGE 211 

the three years senrice had one-third of its membership from this college, and 
the second full company from the township, iti 1862, also had an equal number 
of Cornell's patriotic suns. In the great crisis of 18fj4. wlien President Lint-oln 
asked for men to relieve the veteran regiments and permit them to go to the 
front, almost a full company were college men. In tlie elass of 1861 only two 
men were graduated and botli entered the st^rviee. . . The reeord shows tliat 
from 1853 to 1871 tifty-four men were graduated from the college, and of these 
tliirty had worn the blue." 

During the war the college had much tlie aspect of a female seminar}- to which 
a few young boys and cripples had been admitt<?d by courtesy. In 1863 but 
twelve male students were registered in college classes, and at the commencement 
of this year all upon the program were women except a delicate youth unfit for 
war and a boy of sixteen years. This co'nmenccment was unique in the history 
of the college. On commencement day the audience of peaceful folk seated in 
the grove quietly listening to the student orations wa.s suddenly transformed to 
an infuriated mob, when one girl visitor attempted tfl snatch from anotlier a 
copperhead pin she was wearing. So strong was the excitement, that the college 
buildings were guarded by night for some time afterward for fear that they might 
be burned ir revenge l)y sympathisers with the .south.* 

Near the close of the war it was seen that many of the soldier students of the 
college would be unable to complete their education because of the sacrifices they 
had made in the .service of their country. A fund of fourteen thousand dollars 
was therefore contril)uted by j)atriot friends at home and in part by Iowa regi- 
ments in the field for the education of disabled soldiers and .soldiers' orjihans. 
No gift to the .school ha-s ever been more useful than this foundation, which aided 
in the support of hundreds of the most worthy students of the college. 

Two of the student.s of Cornell were enrolled in the armies of the Confederacy. 
Of these one became a lieutenant in a Texas regiment. At one time learning that 
one of his prisoners was a Cornell boy and a member of his own literary .society, 
the Texas lieutenant found Cornell loyalty a stronger motive than official duty. 
He took his prisoner several miles from camp, gave him a horse and started him 
for the Union lines. 

THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION 

From the beginning Cornell college has been coeducational. In the earliest 
years of her history some concessions were made in the courses of study to the 
supposed weakness of woman's intellect, and "ornamental branches," such as 
"Grecian painting," which seems to have been a .sort of transfer work, "orna- 
mental hair work and wax flowers" were grafted on the curriculum for her 
special l)enefit — • branches which soon were pruned away. 

Woman 's presence seems to have been regarded in these early years as a 
menace to the social order, safely permitted only under the most rigorous restric- 
tions. So late as 1869 Rule .Vumber Twelve appeared in the catalog — "The 
escorting of young ladies by young gentlemen is not allowed." This was a weak 
and degenerate offspring of the stern edict of President Keeler's administration : 

"Young ladies and gentlemen will not a.isociate together in walking or rid- 
ing nor stand conversing together in the halls or public rooms of the buildings, 
but when nccessarji they can see the persons they desire by permission." 

For many years these blue laws have been abrngjited, and the only restrictions 
found needful are those ordinarily imposed by good society. The a.s,soeiation 

• Dnrinfr the tnelce a farmer from north of town gave a stentorian yell for Jeff Davi.i and 
w«« promptly knocked down by a federal soldier home on furlongh. The soldier was after- 
wards arreste<l for assaalt. On the day of the trial before Jud^e Preston of Marion some thirty 
Mount Vernon men were present armed witli various weapons, inclndinfj corn knives. The 
rase was dismissed. 



212 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

and eompetition of young men and women in all college activities — an associa- 
tion necessarily devoid of all romance and glamour — has been found sane and 
helpful to both sexes, and no policy of segregation in any form has ever been as 
much as suggested. 

The social life of the college has always been imder the leadership of the liter- 
ary societies. They are now eight in number: The Amphictyon, Adelphian. 
Miltonian and Star for men and the Philomathean, Aesthesian, Alethean and 
Aonian for women. The student.s of the Academy also sustain four flourishing 
.societies, the Irving and Gladstone. Clionian and King. 

These societies meet in large and rather Insurionsly furnished halls in which 
they entertain their friends each week with literary and musical programs, fol- 
lowed by short socials. Business meetings offer thorough drill in parliamentary 
practice and often give place to impromptu debates which give facility in extem- 
poraneous speaking. The societies also give bancjuets and less formal receptions 
from time to time and in general have charge of the social life of the school. 
Jlembers are chosen by election and the rushing of the incoming freshman class 
is a fast and furious campaign, occupying a week or so of the first half-year. 
However it may affect studies, it certainly develops friendships and promotes the 
rapid assimilation of the large number of new students in the body scK-ial of the 
school. 

The societic have always been in effect fraternities and sororities so far 
as social ndvantages are concerned, and they have performed the function 
of the best fraternities iu the intellectual and moral supervision which they have 
given their members. But the literary societies have been more than fraternities, 
and under their super\'ision the social life of the college has been lived on a dis- 
tinctly higher plane than had its organization been purely social and for recrea- 
tion only. They have also been markedly distinguished from fraternities in 
their democratic character. Instead of excluding fiftj' or even seventy or eightj' 
per cent of the students from their privileges, they have given their inestimable 
social advantages to practically all who cared to join them. They have thus 
prevented the growth of a leisured class of students whose sole interest in college 
is found in its recreations and who have been allowed the control of the 
college social life. Indeed, so valuable in the history of the college has this 
social organization proved that students have suggested that it be extended to 
other colleges by means of affiliated chapters. 

ENDOWMENTS 

During the earlier years of its history the college received few notable gifts. 
It was largely sustained by innumerable .small contributions to its current ex- 
penses and endowment funds made by devoted friends whose generosity and 
self sacrifice deserve the praise bestowed upon the widow who cast her mite into 
the treasury of the temple. The larger gifts which have been made in endo\^'ing 
chairs, \dth the amounts and dates of the foundation and names of the donors, are 
as follows: 
1859 Hamline Professorship of Greek Language and Literature. $25,000, by 

Bishop L. L. Mamline. 
1873 D. N. Cooley Professorship of Civil and Sanitary Engineering, $10,000. 

by Hon. D. N. Cooley, Dubuque, and Oliver Hoyt. 
1873 Alumni Professoi-ship of ]Mathematics. $50,000 by The Alunuii. 
1885 W. P. Johnston Professorship of Physics. $50,000, by Hon. W. F. Jolm- 

ston, Toledo. 
1902 Edgar Truman Brackett, Jr.. Profes.sorship of History and Politics. 

$30,000, by Hon. Edgar T. Brackett, Saratoga, N. Y. 
1904 David Joyce Professorship of Political Economy and Sociolog>'. $50,000, 

by David Jovce, Clinton. 




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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CORNELL COLLEGE 213 

1!)()4 Lucy Hayes King Foundation, now in support of tlu' presidency, by ax- 

l)r.-sidcnt Wni. F. Kinp. $r>0.O(H). 
]i)l(i Alumni Professorship of (ieolopy. $50,000, by The Alumni. 

Among the other notable gifts to the college must be mentioned that by the 
Hon. Andrew Carnegie, of $.^0,0(K> for the erection of the Carnegie librarj-. dedi- 
cated in VM'). 

The largest donations to the college have liccn those of it.s president emeritus, 
William Fletcher King. Most valuable of all have l)een the long years of service, 
but besides the.se he has given from time to time many financial gifts to meet 
current needs and near the end of his term of otflce. he crowned his benefactions 
not only with the endoxnnent of the profes,sorship .just mentioned, but with the 
munificent gift of $100.(MM) to found lOd scholarships in memory of Margaret 
Fletcher King. At the unveiling of the bronze tablet in her memorj-. in 1904, 
Hon. L. M. Shaw spoke these fitting words: "It is my privilege t*> witness the 
unveiling of a tablet erected in memory of a saintly woman who came in bridal 
clothes and left in cerements, and who s|)ent the entire thirty-eight years of her 
married life wedded as completely to Cornell college as to William F. King, and 
who served botli with equal faithfulness and \vith unfaltering devotion. Words 
are inadeipuite to measure the influence of a Christian woman's life sjient amid 
surroimdings such as have existed hen' for a generation. .Neither does bronze 
suffice to prophesy the lift toward righteousness and higher citizenship of what 
is here done by the bereaved husband in the name of Margaret McKell King. 
The tablet so thought full.v erected to her memory and the endowment 
of scholarshi|)s so generously made by Dr. King guarantee the perpetuation of 
the sweet influence of a noble life and extend the benison of Christian education 
to one hundred students per aiuium. on and on. far beyond the ken of those who 
knew her and kno^nng loved her." 

In 1910 the general education board made a conditional gift to the college of 
$100.(KH) for endowment, and of the $;j(K)O00 to be secured to meet the conditions 
nearly half has already been promised in sums among the largest ever given to 
the si'hool. 

THE CURRICUI.LM 

In the fifties Cornell college was a very simple organization. In the first 
year of the college as distinct from the seminary, six teachers taught the entire 
round of the college course, which then included but forty sub.jects. each pur- 
sued for but three months. Resides Latin. Greek and mathematics, there were 
ofTered six terms in science and seven in the following .stibjeets: Xafnral Theol- 
ogy, Evidences of Christianity. Moral Science. Butler's Analog^-. Mental Phil- 
osophy. Rhetoric, and Elements of Criticism. This simjile <'urrieulum was stated 
by the catalog to embrace "the course of study in Mathematics. Languages. 
Sciences, and Belle Lettres which is prescribed in the best colleges and universities. 
It is thorough, extensive and systematic." All the same, both Cornell and "the 
l)est colleges and universities" have found that collegia courses eoid<l be made 
more "thorough and extensive" if not "mon^ systenmtic." Latin, for example, at 
Conieil now ofl'ers eleven half-year courses instead of nine third-year courses as in 
1857-1858. Sciences, which then offered six terms, now ofTer thirty-seven half- 
years and form five strong departments with their own profes.sors and a.ssistants. 
In IH?.") the department of Englisli Literature was organized, and the same year 
special teachers were employed for flu- rirst time in public sjieaking. although 
the Schfiol of Oratorj- was not organized until 1891. History and Politics became 
a distinct department in 1><S6. Courses in the Enirlish Bible were offered in 1894. 
juid in Sociologj- in 1900. In all. the la.st catalog lists more than two hundred half- 
year collegiate courses of study. 



214 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The college has been among the foremost in the west in adapting and enlarg- 
ing its courses to meet changing ideals. As early as 1873 the department of 
Civil and Sanitary Engineering was organized, in which hundreds of young men 
have received a valuable equipment for the work of life. One of the earliest 
recognitions of education as a collegiate subject was when courses in this science 
were offered at Cornell in 1872 — the beginning of the present strong school of 
education. In 1900 and 1901 special directors of Physical Training for both men 
and women were first employed. 

SPIRIT AND INFLUENCE 

During all these changing years since 1853 the spirit of Cornell has remained 
essentially the same, It has made for scholarship — a scholarship honest, tire- 
less, and fearless in the search for truth ; it has cherished culture ; it has fitted for 
service and has sent forth its students to perform, in the words of Milton, "justly, 
skilfully, and magnanimously all the duties both public and private of peace and 
war." It has ever been a religious spirit, too, this spirit of Cornell, and kindling 
in thousands of young hearts has inspired them to purer, stronger, and more 
helpful living. 

The influence of Cornell may be summarized by a quotation from an editorial 
in the Cedar Rapids Republican in 1904, reviewing the history of the college : 

"Fifty years of college work and college building; what does it mean? What 
is it these men, about whom we have been writing, have done? The half can 
not be told. No research, however painstaking, could discover it all, for only a 
portion of such work is ever seen of men. For fifty years a constant stream of 
beneficent influences has been flowing out from this institution. The pure water 
which gushes from a spring on the hillsides, who can trace? A certain portion 
will refresh those who dwell near its source. The remainder flows away to form 
a brooklet that 'joins brimming river' which carries ships, waters cities, and 
finally augments an ocean current that washes illimitable shores. But for these 
springs the everlasting ocean would dry up. The stream of beneficent influences 
which has been flowing from this institution on the hillside down yonder, has 
been carried around the world — into countless fields of hiunan activitj^ and high 
endeavor — into homes where mothers teach their children to avoid those things 
that are of the earth earthy — into business establishments where the golden rule 
is not always turned toward the wall — into legislative halls where statesmen and 
patriots are needed — into the judiciary of state and nation — into the cabinet 
of the president of the United States — into all callings and all professions — in- 
to all countries and all climes. May it flow on forever and forever ! " 



CHAPTER XXIV 

History of Coe College 

BY REV. E. R. BURKHALTER, U. D. 

There is an interest, and a charm peculiarly its own in tracing a stream that 
has grown to be a river back to its head waters in some lake or mountain spring. 
And when instead of a river we trace backward a college to its source and fountain 
head, this interest and charm come to possess a sacred value and are full of hal- 
lowed associations. And the charm and interest become complete when this 
matter is pursued by one who is not only a historian but also a participant in the 
transactions which cover years of time and call up miiuy holy and tender memor- 
ies of scenes and places, and yet more, of persons who were fellow-workers in the 
good cause and the most of whom have passed from earth. 

The fountain head of Coe College, whose history it is now proposed to record, 
is to be sought and foimd in the mind and heart of the Rev. Williston Jones, the 
pioneer pastor of Cedar Rapids, who for the years between 1849 and 1856 was 
the minister of the First Presbyterian church of this city. Mr. Jones was a most 
zealous servant of his Divine Master, and labored zealously for His cause, not 
only in the local field, which was then so newly opened for settlement, but in the 
whole outlying region. His heart felt the needs of this entire middle west, which, 
as a fertile wilderness, was offering such inducements for the pioneer settler, and 
he longed to do his part to the utmost in a.ssisting to provide this region vith a 
gospel ministry. To this end, he opened a School of the Prophets in his own 
home. 

We now avail ourselves at this early point of our historj- of the valuable con- 
tributions furnished by the words of the Rev. George R. Carroll, in his most 
interesting little volume entitled Pioneer Life in and Around Cedar Rapids, 
1839-1849. 

"Jfr. Jones had persuaded one young man, the writer of this sketch, to de- 
vote his life to the gospel ministrj-. But there was no school here in which he 
could begin his studies. At last the zealous pastor de<Mdcd to undertake him.self 
the task of preparing that j'oung man for college. Meantime, other young men 
heard of the arrangement, and persuaded Mr. Jones to admit them also to the 
same privileges. The result was the formation of a class of sixteen or eighteen 
young men who occupied the luifurnished parlor in the pastor's house, which was 
temporarily fitted up for the purpose. One of the number was chosen to act as 
monitor each week, and Mr. and ^^rs. Jones came in at different hours of the day 
to hear the recitations in the various branches of study pursued. The branches 
studied were reading, writing, geography, arithmetic. Latin and Greek. This 
school continued its reprular sessions for about six months, and was successfully 
wound up \rith a public exhibition under the shade trees in front of the pastor's 
residence on the hill near the Milwaukee depot. The following young men were 
among the students of that first school : George Weare. John Stony, ("yrns E. 
Ferguson. Murry S. D. Davis. Amos Ferguson. Isaac W. Carroll, Mortimer A. 
Higley, "William E. Earl. William J. Wood, Edwin Kennedy. George R. Carroll. 
James L. Bever, and George W. Bever." 



216 HISTORY OF LIXX COUNTY 

We also avail ourselves of an extract from the Fortieth Anniversary First 
Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1887, on which occasion Mr. Carroll 
in his biographical sketch of the Rm-. Williston Jones, our first pastor, used the 
following language: 

"Mr. Jones was deeply interested in the subject of raising up a native min- 
istry. That is to say, he believed that it was important that we .should seek out 
young men from among the people of the west to labor in the west. It was, 
therefore, his constant aim wherever he met a Christian young man of any 
promise, to lay before him the claims of the gospel ministry, and urge him prayer- 
fully to consider the question as to whether or not God had called him to the 
sacred office. This fact, of course, led him to take a great interest in the subject 
of education. There were no schools at that time where a young man could even 
begin a course of study for the ministry. He felt the embarrassment of the sit- 
uation. He had at last foiuid one yoimg man who had decided to study for the 
ministry, but there was no school in Cedar Rapids where he could make a begin- 
ning of the study of Latin or Greek or any of the higher branches of study. At 
last he decided to undertake himself the task of preparing that young man for 
college. In a short time, a dozen or fifteen more, hearing of this arrangement, 
begged the privilege of joining that lone student in studying luider Mr. Jones, 
and before he was aware of it, he found himself at the head of a school for young 
men. This was in the autumn of 1851. He had erected for himself, meantime, 
a house of the same material of the old church, cement. It still stands on the 
hill north of the jMilwauliee depot. The parlor of that house was at that time 
unfinished. It was lathed but not plastered. Mr. Jones said to the young men. 
if they would get one coat of plastering put onto that room, and put in .some 
temporarj' seats made of slabs, they could have the use of it for a school room. 
The offer was promptly accepted, and, in due time, the school began in good 
earnest. One of the number would act as monitor in the school-room for a week, 
and then another, until the honor had been enjoyed by all. Mr. and Mrs. Jones 
were the first professors of the institution, coming in at regular hours to hear 
recitations. The branches of study pursued in the new academy were reading, 
writing, geography, arithmetic, algebra, grammar, Latin and Greek. Due atten- 
tion was also given to composition, declamation, and vocal music. For six months 
that school continued in perfect harn^my and marked success. The term closed 
sometime in June, I think 1852, with public exorcises appropriate to the occasion. 
The place of meeting was in a grove immediately in front of the school-room. 
The order of exercises, as nearly as I can remember, consisted in singing and 
prayer of course, recitations, reading of essays, and declamations. Everytliing 
passed off pleasantly and satisfactorily, and I believe the school was pronounced 
a success. This effort convinced IMr. Jones more than ever of the need of a 
permanent school of a higher order. He therefore wrote on to Knox college, I 
think to Professor Blanchard, to see if one of the graduates could not come and 
take charge of the .school. The result was that iMr. David Blakely, then a recent 
graduate of I^ox college, came in the fall of 1852 and opened the school in the 
church. The .school then assumed the name of the Cedar Rapids Collegiate 
Institute. Mr. Blakely held the position of principal of that school for two years, 
and then resigned hiR position to enter the active work of the gospel ministry, in 
which he is still engaged. During all this time the school was kept up with 
imabated interest, many students coming in from the country round about, and 
several from remote parts of the state. At least three of the members of that 
school entered the ministry, and are .still engaged in the active duties of the sacred 
calling: one. Rev. Hiram Hill, in California-, another. Rev. "William Campbell, 
in Kansas ; and the third in this state. It was during the spring of 1853, I think, 
that Mr. Jones was sent as a commissioner to the General Assembly (X. S.) which 




\V. K. KINli, LL. D. 
Lonu President Cornell College 



iriSTOHV OF COE COLLEGE JIT 

met in Buffalo, X. Y. Duriiifj his absence the school at lioiiie occupied his 
thoughts and called out all the energies of liis ardent nature. He determined 
if possible to secure aid in thi' east by which to i)lace the school upon a permanent 
l)asis. havinj; for it.s chief end tln' eiiucation of indit;ent younn men for the {rospel 
ministry, lie was not disappointed in his purjjose. Guided no doubt by an 
all-wi.se Providence, he met Mr. Daniel Coe, who listened to his earnest apjjcal, 
and pave him the money with which the eighty acres of frround. where the college 
now stauils, iind these two lots ni>w occupied by this dmrch aiul chapel, and a lot 
now occupied by the M. E. churi-h. were secured. Dr. J. F. Ely making the pur- 
chase. You will see then, that out of the little school, started in the first pastor's 
house, has grown Coe college, and Rev. Willistou Jones was its founder." 

It can thus be easily seen that the yearning of Mr. Jones to see a school pro- 
vided in Cedar Rapids was a tire in his bones. And so. when in the providence of 
God, he was in attendance at a meeting of the General A.sseml)ly of the Presby- 
terian church (New School) which was held in May. IH.'i:?. in the city of Hutfalo, 
N. Y., he sought to interest everyone who:ii he met in the cau.se of ("liristian edu- 
cation in the west. At that satnc session of the ficneral Assembly wa.s a minister 
of the Presbyterian church from the Cat.skill mountain region of New York state. 
He said to Mr. Jones, in substance. "I cannot help you myself, but I believe I 
know a man in my section of the coimtry who can and will, and if you come home 
with me to Durham. Greene ctuuity. New York, I will introduce you to him." 
The man alluded to was Mr. Daniel Coe. an elder of the church, already deeply 
interested in the cause of Christian education and prejiaring to help ai-cording to 
his ability when the suitable opportunity was atTorded. 

Mr. Jones went to Durham and met Mr. Coe, and presenting to him the matter 
nearest to his heart, the founding of a school of christian learning in the new world 
beyond the Mississippi, Mr. ('oe gladly consented to assist in the enterprise. 
The sum promised. $l..^(1(l. would be considered in these days a very meagre one, 
but in IS."):?, and in Iowa, it must have seemed like ."f^lo.OOO or more wiuild seem 
now to us. and Mr. Jones must have welcomed the proffered aid with delight. 

When he returned to his home in Cedar Rapids and to his brethren of the 
Presbytery of Iowa Cit>-. of which he was a member, he made such encouraging 
statenuMit.s concerning the treatment he had received at the General As.sembly. 
and especially concerning the offer of Mr. Coe. that there was formed in Cedar 
Rapids a corporation by the name of the Cedar Ra]>ids Collegiate Institute, which 
prepared articles and filed them for record August 9. 1853. All persons owning 
one share of stock each in the In.stitute became thereby members of the corpor- 
ation, each .share of stock being of the value of $25.00. Article twelve of the 
fourteen articles of corporation reads as follows: 

"The Iowa City Presbytery in consideration of five scholarships for the first 
five years, and of ten scholarships thereafter, shall have the right to nominate 
all teachers of the In.stitute, subject, however, to confirmation by the Board of 
Directors, but this right shall be forfeited if .said consideration .shoidd at any time 
fail." 

There is no reason to suppiwe from the records that this consideration was ever 
fulfilled. 

Article thirteen gives the names of the directors: Williston Jones. John F. 
Ely, W. W. Smith. Seymour 1). Carpenter. Addison Daniels. I.saac Cook, William 
Greene. J(»hn L. Shearer, and .\aron Vsn Dorn : and the following persons as 
officers of the board: GtMirge Gn-^'ue. presidt-nt ; Samson C. Bever. treasurer; 
David Blakely, secretary. 

It is ver>- interesting to note that of these persons there is one who survives to 
this day, Mr. W. W. Smith, who at a verj' advanced ape still lives at Minneapolis. 



218 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The first meeting of this board of directors was held July 18, 1853, and it 
was at that meeting that Mr. Jones presented the instrument of writing signed 
by Daniel Coe, of the county of Greene, in the state of New York, making a con- 
ditional donation to the Institute of the sum of $1,500, of which the following is 
a copy : 

"conditional donation to cedar r.vpids collegiate institute 

"Know all men by these presents that I, Daniel Coe, of the town of Durham, 
County of Greene, and State of New York, in view of the educational wants of 
the great and growing West, and in expectation of its resulting in the establish- 
ment of a permanent institution of learning, do hereby engage to give in behalf 
of Iowa City Presbytery, connected with the constitutional General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church which met at Buffalo, May 19th, 1853, to Cedar Rapids 
Collegiate Institute the following sums for the object hereinafter specified, to- 
wit: Four Hundred and twenty-five Dollars ($425.00) for the purchase of as 
large and suitable tract of land as practicable as a site for the location of the 
Institute. And Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) for fencing of the same. Also 
One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) to be appropriated in the best manner for a 
farm contiguous to the site, the avails of which are to be appropriated to the best 
advantage for the benefit of such students as may need to assist themselves by 
manual labor. Of these two sums the first mentioned, consisting of Five Hundred 
Dollars ($500.00), can be secured to the Institute as a part of its property by the 
erection upon its site thus purchased of a building costing at least Two Thousand 
Dollars ($2000.00), and the last mentioned One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) 
can be thus secured by bringing the Institute into successful operation. Provided 
that if these conditions fail, or if the Institute l)e removed or diverted from 
its original design, either or both of these donations shall be forfeited, and the 
land purchased shall revert back to the said Daniel Coe, his heirs, executors, or 
administrators. 

"Dr. John F. Ely, Hon. Gkorge Greene, Dr. S. D. Carpenter, Isaac Cook. Esq., 
James Ferguson, and Williston Jones are hereby authorized to act for me in the 
selection and purchasing for said Institute the above mentioned site and farm, 
and are to draw on me for the money; of which sum Seven Hundred Dollars 
($700.00) can be drawn at any time, and the remaining Eight Hundred Dollars 
($800.00) one year from the date of this engagement. 

"It is my strong desire that this Institute should be made available for the 
education of females as well as males. ' ' 

It is evidently to be seen that it was the purpose of Mr. Coe to enable the direc- 
tors of the Cedar Rapids Collegiate Institute to maintain a school of learning 
to be conducted in a building within easj' access to the town, and at the same 
time aid such students as needed assistance through the products of the farm 
purchased on the edge of the town. Steps were taken at once to procure two 
sites, one for the school building, the other for the farm. And after considerable 
inquiiy and debate, two sites were chosen and purchased: the one for the school 
building consisting of the two lots on which the First Presbyterian chiarch of 
this city now stands and has stood since 1S69 ; the other for the farm, consisting 
of a plot of eighty acres, of which the present campus of Coe College of ten acres, 
is the southwestern extremity. 

The town lots were purchased for $275.00. The eighth' acres were bought for 
$1000.00. These eighty acres were obtained from Mr. Otho S. Bowling by Dr. 
John F. Ely. who bought them with INIr. Coe's money for the Cedar Rapids Col- 
legiate Institute. The date of the purchase is December 5, 1853. Mr. Bowling 
had obtained the land at the price of $820.00 from the executors of the estate of 
Mr. Joshua Phillips, of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Phillips had died 



HISTORY OF COE COLLEGE 219 

at his residence in Pennsylvania at some time between the 15th of December, 
1852, and the 4th of January, 1853, and he had himself obtained the property 
in Cedar Rapids by patent from the United States government May 1, 1848. So 
that the plot gf ground which figures in such a vital manner in the history of 
Coe College had passed through but two hands before l)eing transferred to the 
Collegiate Institute from the government which had obtained it from the Indians. 

It has also appeared tliat it wjvs the wish of Mr. Coe and the design of the 
directors of the school that the building t^) cost .$20()().()(( should be erected as soon 
as practicable upon the town lots. But the erection of this building was delayed 
for various causes and especially in consequence of the lack of funds. Mean- 
while, a school of very elementary character was maintained in the building 
used as their house of worship by the First Presbyterian church, and Mr. David 
Blakely was obtained as principal at a salary of $400.00 per annum, payable 
quarterly. 

As time went on it was found to be more difiScuIt than seemed probable in the 
beginning, to obtain subscriptions for the erection of the building of a school of 
just the character that seemed within the feeble means of the directors. And it 
became even more difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the school in the build- 
ing occupied by the Presbyterian church. For it would appear that this commim- 
ity of Cedar Rapids was in process of organizing a general public school system, 
and no place seemed to exist for a parochial school of the elementary character 
that was then being conducted by the Cedar Rapids Collegiate Institute, at least 
in so small a community and one so feebly provided with material funds. 

Therefore, through the want of proper sustenance, everyone conne<'ted with 
the Institute and notably the principal upon whom the chief burden fell became 
wholly discouraged and the Presbytery of Iowa City, tliat had a certain relation- 
ship to the school and interest in its success, proposed to put the school on wheels 
and offer it to the highest bidder, naming several localities among which were: 
Vinton, Waterloo, Lyons, Cedar Falls, Xewton, and Iowa City.* 

It will surely be of interest to learn [See Miyiutes Iowa City Presbytery, Mt. 
Vernon, February 4, 18.^7] that the citizens and proprietors of Comanche offered 
a site and subscriptions to the amount of $10,000, or $200.00 more than any other 
town, for the location of the Collegiate Institute of the Presbytery. Vinton also 
made a strong bid for the school and hoped to capture it, and might have done so 
had it not been that the eighty acre plot of ground, which was the only financial 
as.set of the institution, was securely fastened down in Cedar Rapids, and Mr. 
Coe hesitated as to the propositions for the removal of the school. 

But these internal and external discussions acted in a verj- unfavorable manner 
upon the Institute, and led to the winding up of its affairs, for there is no record 
of any meeting of its board of directors subsequent to July 2(), 1859. 

Meanwhile, a new star of hope arose in the heavens, and for several years at 
least it was a star of considerable brilliancy. It was made known, namely, that 
the will of Mr. Ix»wis Baldwin Parsons, a benefactor and philanthro{)ist, and who 
died in Detroit. Michigan. December 21, 1855, after a successful life as a manu- 
facturer in Buffalo. X. Y.. c(mtained a bequest setting aside a very considerable 
amount of money to found a Presbyterian college in Iowa. It could not be a 
matter of surprise, therefore, that the brefhri^n in Cedar Rapids, who had strug- 
gled so hard to foiuid a college with Mr. Coe's donation, and who had been so 
sorely di.sappointed, should now with enthusiasm welcome the thought that the 
Parsons legacy might be lo<'ated here and be added to the Coe donation, and thus 
become the foundation of a strong college in Iowa in connection with the Presby- 
terian church. Accordingly, steps were taken to incorporate a new body of 
stockholders into an organization to be known as Parsons Seminary. The date 

• 8«o Minute* of Iowa City Fresbytery , Uyoas, May 9, 1858. 



220 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

of the first meeting with this end in view is November 10, 1866, and the foUomng 
persons were chosen to serve as officers until the annual meeting in December: 
Kev. James Knox, president; Hon. George Greene, xice-president ; Dr. John F. 
Ely, secretary ; and Mr. S. C. Sever, treasurer. 

At the annual meeting, December 3, 1866, the following officers were chosen : 
George Greene, president; James Kjiox, vice-president; John F. Ely, secretarj'; 
W. W. Walker, treasurer. 

It was resolved immediately that Mr. Coe should be retiuested to deed to the 
new organization the eighty acres of land already donated by him to the Cedar 
Rapids Collegiate In.stitute, and at a meeting of the board of trustees of Parsons 
Seminary, held January 4, 1867, Judge Greene, president of the board, reported 
that he had visited Mr. Daniel Coe at his home in Durham, N. Y., and had pro- 
cured from him the deed to Parsons Seminary of tlie land in question. 

This most generous act of Mr. Coe reveals the large and unselfish character 
of the man and declares the nobility of his motive to promote the cause of high 
christian education in the west. 

This act of Mr. Coe also gave great encouragement to the board of trustees 
of the seminary to proceed in their work, and the.v proceeded vigorously to raise 
what must in those days have been a considerable sum of money, for the purpose 
of erecting a suitable building for college purposes upon the edge of the eight.v 
acre plot nearest to the town. The two town lots which had originally been pur- 
chased for the location of the school building were sold to the trustees of the 
First Presbyterian church, to become the site of a house of worship, which build- 
ing was erected by them in 1869, and still stands a substantial edifice of stone, 
facing the public square long knoT\Ti as Washington Park, now George Greene 
Square. 

The ways and means and plans for this new building occupied the attention 
of the board for many meetings during the years 1867 and 1868, and the work was 
pushed with all vigor to enable the trustees to open their seminary in the new 
building in the fall of 1868. 

^Meanwhile, the school work was inaugurated, pending the erection of the 
building on the college grounds, in the Wadsworth block, a row of unpretentious 
buildings resembling a barracks, on Second street and Fifth avenue, in the school 
year 1867-8, The principal of this .school was the Rev. A. B. Goodale. a Presby- 
terian clergyman who survived in southern California until a few years ago. 

Mr. Charles J. Deacon, our higlilj- esteemed and greatly respected fellow citi- 
zen, who has spent a long and useful life among us, as an attorney, and who has 
been for several years a most valuable trustee of Coe College, was one of the first 
students of Parsons Seminarv, and he iias furnished us the following remin- 
iscences which we gladly incorporate in this historical sketch : 

"I came to Cedar Rapids and enrolled as a student in Parsons Seminary 
early in September. 1868. The school had been in progress under that name for 
a year previous, but then for the first time entered into the new building, now the 
west half of the main building of Coe college. This school was then prosperous 
and the bod.v of students very enthusiastic. Dr. A. R. Goodale was the principal 
and Prof. Augustus ilaasburg was the professor of Latin. Greek. French, and 
German. Miss A. D. Kelsey, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke. and a most estimable 
lad}', had charge of the primary' department, and also taught many of the classes 
in mathematics, and had charge of the botan.y class. Miss Lindsay, a sister of 
Mrs. Goodale, taught painting and drawing. A few weeks after the school opened. 
Professor and IMadame ^Masurier came, tind Professor ilasurier took charge of 
the music, and Mme. Masurier was givefi Ihe care of the French class. I remem- 
ber also that Miss Addie Goodell, now Mrs. Birdsall, of Lake City, Iowa, was a stu- 




MAIN STREET FROM THE NORTH, FAIRFAX 




MAIN STREET LOOKING WEST, CENTRAL CITY 



HISTORY OF COIO (^OLI.KdK 'J-Jl 

dent in the seminary, and it became necessarj' to have an assistant in the primary 
department, and slie was cniployt'd in tliat <'apai'ity. 

"At tlie lieginiiinyr of tlie year 18t)8-18()!) the st-liool numbered over one liun- 
dred students. They were, of eourse, lar;;ely from the city of (Jedar Rapids, but 
they came also from the surrounding towns of Fairfax. Springr^'ille, Center Point, 
C'entral City, and some from the farms within a few miles of the eity. They 
caiiit' also from Vinton and Mareiitro, and some from more distant portions of the 
Stat*', and 1 remembor two from the state of Illinois, and one from .\ol)raska. 

"The school year was divided into four terms of ten weeks eaeh. the tuition 
being $7. 5U per term. I remendK-r there was some falling off in the attendanee at 
the close of the second term in mid-winter. In the spring we were told that Dr. 
Goodale would have an a.s.sistant in the person of .Mr. J. \V. Stephens. When lie 
eanu' he was introduced to us by Dr. Goodale as his a.s.sistant, but it soon developed 
that be was the prinei])al of the .seminary. Doctor Goodale having about that time 
accepted the pastorate of the I'resbyteria'i church at .Marshalltown. Tbc attend- 
ance at the spring term under the condui-t of Dr. Stephens was much siiuillcr than 
in the fall, but the school continued until the 2()th of June, when it closed for the 
summer vacation. It issued a catalogue as it had the previous year and an- 
nounced the opening for the following Septendier. 

"I returned to the school in the fall when it opened for the third year, being 
the .secoiul year in the new building, and found many of the old students. The 
sciiool, however, was much smaller than at the opening of the previous year. It 
also dwindled very much during the year, and when we closed in dune. 1870. my 
recollection is tiuit it numbered about forty students. Mr. Stephens announced 
that it would be continued, however, and the school opened again in the September 
following. I did not return to the school, but went to the State University of 
Iowa. Jlr. Stephens continiied the school until the following spring, and then 
closed it. (We understAn<l that .Mr. Stephens is still living in connection with 
Park College. Mo.] 

"One thinu: that is (|uite dearly im]iresscd upon my memory is the meeting 
of the Sj'nod of Iowa, North, in this cit.v in the late winter or early spring of 186i). 
The application of the Parsons legacy and the endowment of the college was then 
a very prominent question in Presbyterian circles. Cedar Rapids was a most 
prominent applicant for the location of the college to be thus endowed, and the 
seminary had been named I'arsons Scnunary with a view to attracting that 
legacy here. A large representation of the synod visited the college at the time 
I speak of anil addressed the students. .Amongst others, I remember Doctor 
Spe<^s, then of Dubuque; the Rev. Sanmcl Howe, and Mr. Alexander Danskin. of 
Marengo. They .said to us that we were now a college, that whereas yesterday 
we were a seminarj-, today we were a college. There was much enthusiasm mani- 
fe.sted among us by this statement, and we all felt satisfied that the matter had been 
practically settled. Subsequent facts proved that tlnir statement was a little 
premature. 

"Another thing that comes to my recollection is the visit of the committee 
to locate the Parsons legacy in the spring of 1870. This committee was headed 
by Doctor Craig, then pastor of the church at Keokuk, now of McCormick Seniin- 
ar>-, Chicairo. The committee nuule a verv thorough examination of the buildings 
and of the grounds and of tlie Im-ation generally. I distinctly rwall their walk- 
ing over the grounds. Tbc trustees of tlic seminary, being informed in advance 
of the coming of this committei'. were preparing to create a good impression. A 
few days before their pxp(>cted arrival. Mie ground, which had been leveled off 
in front of the college, and which consisted of coai"se sand, was ornamented In- 
some fifty or si.xty evergreen trees, and a large amount of black dirt was hauled 
in upon the sand with the expectation of spreading it over the .sand to pre.s»'nt a 
surface of good soil with a large nuiidier of evergreen trees set out in an ornamen- 



222 HISTORY OP LINN COUNTY 

tal order. Unfortunately, however, the committee arrived earlier than was an- 
ticipated and the black dirt had not been spread over the sand. To render the 
situation still worse, a high wind was blowing the day the committee were here 
and the sand was drifting over the dirt piles and filling up against the lower board 
of the fence. What the effect of this was upon the committee I have no means of 
judging. It is, however, interesting to notice that the Parsons legacy never came 
to Cedar Rapids. 

"I could mention many names of Cedar Rapids citizens who as boys attended 
school at Parsons Seminarv' during those early years. Mr. C. C. Greene, ilr. 
John S. Ely. Jlr. George B. Douglas, were all there with me. Mr. George W. 
Winn, also a trustee, used to go there for private lessons in German from Professor 
JMaasburg. Mr. C. L. IMiller, of the Gazette. Emery and Harry Bro^vn, and 
Elmer Higley are names that also occur to me readily, I could mention, likewise, 
many ladies who studied there in those early years. The Rev. Alexander Dans- 
kin, editor of one of our church papers at Detroit, ]\Iichigan. was a student there 
at that time, afterwards graduating from Wabash College ; also the Rev. R. M. L. 
Braden, who likewise went to Waba.sh College. 

' ' These are a few of the things that come to my mind as I review my two years 
in Parsons Seminary." 

It can easily be read between the lines of Mr. Deacon 's reminiscences that Par- 
sons Seminary, however enthusiastic its support was at the beginning, did not 
continue by any means to be an entire success. We must look for the explanation 
of this very largely to its lack of financial resources. It was living largely on 
hopes, and hopes that were not destined to be realized. Mr. Coe's donation, lying 
in the eighty acres of land, was utterly uuproductive of a revenue, and the Par- 
sons legacy, which consisted of four thousand acres of wild lauds in various coun- 
ties in Iowa, had not yet been located in Cedar Rapids, but was hovering in the 
air as a glittering object which several localities in the state were reaching out to 
obtain. 

It would be an interesting and instructive pursuit to trace the historv' of this 
legacy both within the Presbyterian synod of Iowa and within the various cities 
of the state which made bids for its attainment. The story, as far as Cedar 
Rapids is concerned, is one of bright hopes, earnest aspiration, valiant endeavor 
and achievement, to be followed by severe disappointment and bitter regret. The 
citizens of this city went heroically to work to raise the sum of .$75,000 to be sub- 
scribed and added to the Parsons legacy [then estimated to be of the value of 
.$aO,000] , and this again to be added to the Coe donation of eighty acres of land, 
which were continually increasing in value through the growth of the citj' of 
Cedar Rapids. These three sums, when added together, would furnish, it was 
intelligently felt, a very substantial endowment as the beginning of a college. 
We have often been told that when this campaign for the raising of the $75,000 
had been successfully completed, there was such a general jubilee in 
our city that instinctively in demonstration thereof the whistles of the locomotives 
and manufacturing establishments were merrilj' blown. But all these plans went 
agley. Although committees from the synods of Iowa had presented unanimous 
reports recommending that the Parsons legacy be located at Cedar Rapids, it was 
eventually taken to Fairfield to found Parsons College. The fund of $75,000 
which was raised in Cedar Rapids fell to the ground because of the failure to 
meet its vital condition of the bringing of the Parsons legacy here, and so, once 
more, all that was left for us was Mr, Coe's donation of the eighty acre plot and 
the indomitable spirit of a few of the citizens of Cedar Rapids to plant in our 
city an institution of higher learning in connection with the Presbyterian church. 

It is idle at this late date to discuss the wisdom or the folly of those men in 
the synod who were responsible for this result. It were wholly unproductive to 



HISTORY OF COE COLLEGE 223 

speculate what miglit have been accomplished by the union of all our educational 
forces here in Cedar Rjipids. What is written is written, what is done is an ac- 
complished fact. Presbyterians arc not in the hai)it of (luarrdinf; with Divine 
Providence, but are the rather given to rejoicing in the sovereignty of God. It 
is quite conceivable that results already visible can give occasion for gratitude that 
we have now Uie two colleges, Voe and Parsons, instead of but one, as was once so 
ardently hoped for here at Cedar Rapids. If anyone in the years between 1870 
and 1873 made an error in judgment in objecting to the merger, the only way to 
rectify it now is by pressing all the more for the promoting of the endowment 
and the i)uildings of both the colleges, the one at Fairfield, and the one at Cedar 
Rapids. 

Hut the facts are that through the force of circumstances, the .school at Cedar 
Kapids was obliged to suspend its work, and little or nothing was done in the 
building erected in 1868 from 1871 to 187-5. Then for the third time, and under 
new auspices, was the work begun afresh, and it tx)ok place on this wi.se: On the 
26th of April, 1875, the trustees of Parsons Seminary held a meeting, at which 
meeting a committee of the Presbytery of Cedar Rapids was present for the pur- 
pose of considting with the board to the end that the .seminary building and the 
Coe legacy located at Cedar Rapids might be made available for the establishment 
of a school of a high order under the care of the .said Presbytery. This committee 
had been appointed by the Presb.ytery at its session at Anamosa April 24, 1875, 
and they jjresented to the board of trustees of Parsons Seminary a formal report in 
writing, which expressed the readiness of the Presbytery to undertake the care of 
the school at Cedar Rapids on condition that all its debts be cancelled, and its 
charter be so amended as to give to the Presbytery the power to appoint its board 
of trustees. The Presbytery also pledged itself to do all in its power to maintain 
the school and open it in the school building by the 1st of October, 1875. The 
board of trustees consented to the proposition of the Presbytery and resolved to 
change the name of the institution from Parsons Seminary to Coe Collegiate In- 
stitute. The articles of incorporation of Parsons Seminary, which had been 
adopted October 30, 1866, were amended May 11, 1875. to meet the new conditions. 
The board of trustees was fixed at the number of eighteen, and the i)ower to elect 
them was vested in the Presbytery of Cedar Rapids, or in the .synod of Iowa Xorth, 
if the said s.\^lod shall assume such power with the consent of said Presbytery. 
The first election was appointed to take place in the fall of the year 1876. 

Mr. Daniel Coe had pas.sed from earth in the interval between December 23, 
1866, when he deeded the eighty acres of land in Cedar Ra[)ids to Parsons Semin- 
ary, and this date in 1875, when these new relations with the seminary were en- 
tered into. He left a daughter, an only child, who had become the wife of Mr. J. 
E. Jewell. This daughter, Mr. Coe's sole heir at law, with her husband, entered 
in a ver>' friendly manner and measure into the new plans of the institution, and 
nobly agreed to permit the school to avail itself under certain conditions well 
understood and agreed to, of the advantages accruing from the revenues of the 
property. 

On the 21st of September. 1875. it was announced at a meeting of the trustees 
of Coe Collegiate Institute that correspondence had been conducted with the Rev. 
R. A. Condit with a view to his being made principal of the school. Mr. Condit 
was then elected to that office. This event marks the entrance into the work of 
Coe College of a personality of rare value in himself and of rare value to the 
institution of learning which he served most faithfully for a period of thirty years 
after his appointment in 1875. Robert Aaron Condit was a man of sweet spirit 
and gentle demeanor; he was a christian and a .'scholar. No one ever doubted his 
piety or his moral integrity. The students who for a whole generation passed 
under his care all loved him because he loved them, and was himself so lovable. 
His influence upon them was mild, but effective, and we venture to say without 



224: HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

fear of coutradiction, that all the alumni of Coe College who loievv him as their 
preceptor recognize the fact with gratitude that they are better persons for having 
known him. In the weak and struggling days of Coe Collegiate Institute before 
it emerged into its present larger, stronger growth, as Coe College. Robert Condit 
was a factor peculiarly litted for the task providentially laid upon him, and his full 
value to the college can scarcely be over-estimated or even stated sufficiently. 

On the 8th of March, 1876, Prof. J. W. MeLaury was employed to assist ^Ir. 
Condit in the school, his salarj' being raised by voluntary subscriptions. Mr. 
McLaury 's ser\'ices. though valuable, were not long retained by the institution. 

At the meeting of the board held December 28. 1876, the report of the election 
of the trustees by the Presbytery October -4. 1876. was made, as directed by the 
charter. And at the same meeting the following officers of the board were chosen : 
lion. George Greene, president; Thomas ]\I. Sinclair, vice president; D. W. C. 
Rowley, secretary ; George W. Winn, treasurer. It was at this meeting that the 
present writer took his seat with his brethren for the first time as an officially 
accredited member of the board. And it is a matter of grateful, tender recollec- 
tion to him. that he has remained to this day in unbroken relation with the insti- 
tution in all possible varieties of official position and duties upon its manifold 
committees. And it is a solemn recollection with him that he alone remains on the 
board of all those who have served with him for thirt\'-four years. 

He can well remember the tone and atmosphere of the meetmgs of the board, 
which he was then called upon to attend. It was truly a day of small things. The 
meetings were frequent and they were often lengthy, and we must truly say they 
W'Cre usually dreary, and we went from them with depressed hearts. For the 
questions for discussion were mostl.v, not how' to promote high christian learning, 
but how to pay the debts of Parsons Seminarj'. And the problem was, how to 
pay something with nothing. There were notes at two of the leading banks of the 
city, notes which were increasing fearfuU.v by the compounding of interest at ten 
per cent, and there were notes held by individuals who had loaned money to the 
seminary, there were mechanic's liens of sums unpaid in the erection of the build- 
ing put up in 1867-8. and to meet these obligations there was nothing in sight. 
For all mone.ys that found their wa,v into the treasury were needed, and more than 
needed, to pa.v current bills t« teachers, heating and lighting bills and such minor 
fees. We remember that our treasurer was once garnisheed by the brother of one 
of our teachers for the payment of his sister's salary', and some sort of compromise 
settlement was effected. 

We have not a thought or word of disparagement concerning an.v member of 
the board at that time. But it would have required men of heroic mold and 
prophetic vision to face those problems. The president of the board, the lion. 
George Greene, a name never to be mentioned in this cit.v without a tribute of re- 
spect, was deeply immersed in his own private interests and was compelled 
to be absent from home a great part of the time. Soon after the date of which 
we speak, he insisted upon pressing his resignation as president of the board. 
Other prominent business and professional men on the board were also engro.ssed 
in large personal interests. The ministers on the board, however valuable though 
they may have been for counsel conceniing educational questions, were quite help- 
less in grappling with the financial problems which from necessity were uppermost. 

The Rev. James Knox had passed from earth October 10. 187.5. after having 
contributed valuable services to the college during the eleven years of his pastorate 
in this city. We here insert the following tribute to Mr. Knox, which was pre- 
sented at a meeting of the board of trustees March 8. 1876. and was adopted, all 
the members present standing : 

"In the providence of God the Rev. James Knox, former vice president of this 
board, having been removed by death we take this opportunity to record out testi- 





REV. J. B. ALBROOK, D. D. 



AN OLD tiKAVE AT Sl'RlNCiVlLLE 





PROF. IIARRIETTE J. COOK 



MRS. MARGARET McKELL KING 



1 1 1 STOR ^' ( > i' ( "< ) !•: ( '() M . VA\ E L>25 

mony to his exceeding worth as a man an'l his wisdom and faithfulness as a min- 
ister of the {;ospt'l. and to his pr»>at devotion and usefulness to tiiis institution, 
havint; been eonneeted with it from its earliest days, and havinf^ given to it his 
best strength and al)ility for many years, and his very latest prayers. We feel 
that his plaee eannot easily be tilled and that in him the eollege has lost one of its 
truest and best friends."' 

There was one notable exception to ;ill these. One personality stands out 
from the midst of his brethren and to him more than to any other element at tliis 
critical period of the history of Coe Collesre do we attril)\ite the fact that we have 
a college today, and one with such promise and potency. We refer to .Mr. Thomas 
M. Sinclair. Mr. Sinclair had come to Cedar Rapids in 1871 a young man not 
quite thirty years of age. He was ])ursuing a large manufacturing business, that 
of pork packing, with rare energy- and intelligence, and with great success. lie 
was making money, and his great desire and single aim was to use this money 
with a ke«»n sense of responsibility to God and usefulness to his fellow men. lie 
was a man of rare christian character, one among ten thousand. It may truly be 
said of him that he walked with God. Coming into this young country from the 
older world, he took a most keenly active interest in all things that pert<iined to its 
welfare, and it was a fortunate thing for Coe College that he came to Cedar Rap- 
ids at such a time as he did. The cause of christian edueation was one of his 
most treasured conceptions of opportiinity, and he identified himself with the rep- 
resentative of that cause which he providentially found to his hand in this strug- 
gling institution. 

Seeing the imperative need of relief from debt which Coe Collegiate Institute 
manifested, he determined in the nobility of his heart that he would pay out of 
his own pocket such obligations, principal and interest, as lay against the institu- 
tion, although they amounted to several thousand dollars. And this he gladly 
did in all such cases as he could not induce those who owned these obligations 
to cancel them themselves. And thus it came about one happ.v day that he could 
declare the college was actually free from all such incumbrances. Then he and 
several of his colleagues, inspired with new hope and courage, and determined to 
launch the institution upon broader and deeper waters, went before the .synod of 
Iowa North, which met at Waterloo. Iowa, in October. 1880. and asked the synod 
to a.ssume the care and control of the Iiist'tute. free from debt, and possessed of a 
building, and of eighty acres of land in the city of Cedar Rapids. The synod 
accepted the proposition, and steps were taken at once to frame articles of incor- 
poration of a new organization to be called Coe College. The articles were filed 
for record on the Ifith day of April. 1881. Proper deeds were drawn and filed 
for record which conve.ved to Coe College all the properties owiied by Cedar Rap- 
ids Collegiate Institute, Parsons Seminary, and Coe Collegiate Institute, and thus 
the line of inheritance and descent was duly established. In these negotiations 
relating to the transference of the [)ropert.v thn>ugh the hands of Mr. aud Mrs. 
Jewell, negotiations which refpiired great care in the handling, the valuable ser- 
vices of Mr. A. V. Eastman should be mentioned. Mr. Eastman served the college 
most valuably for several years at this period as its secretary. He subsiMiuently 
removed from Cedar Rapids to St. Paul, Minn., and still later to St. Charles, La., 
where he died most suddenlj' several years ago. 

We have now emerged with our history from the intricacies of a somewhat 
tortuous channel, and we have pa.s.sed fuit from shoals and shallows to enter upon 
clearer, deeper, broader waters. IIencef'>rth we are to pursue the storj- of the 
institution known as Coe College, which, with devious fortunes, hut with pen-ep- 
tibly increasing volume, has been filling its place and doing its work under the 
charter prepared in 1881. Certain changes have been made to this charter. 



226 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

more or less important, but Coe College is the same institution, conducted by the 
same incorporation from 1881 to the present time. 

The first item which we are called upon to record at this period of the history 
of our college, is the lamentable death of Mr. Thomas M. Sinclair, which occurred 
on the 24th day of March, 1881. The circumstances were peculiarly startling. 
By an accident he fell through an open hatchway in his own packing house and 
never recovered consciousness, although he continued to breathe for .several hours. 
We can never forget our emotions over this event. It was truly an inscrutable 
Providence. Mr. Sinclair was at that time a young man. full of vigor and energy. 
He was a pillar of strength upon whom many leaned. He had done so much to 
bring the college up to this point of its new beginning that both he and we were 
looking forward with desire and delight +o what might be accomplished tlu'ough 
his (!0-operat)on. But it was willed otherwise. We cannot interpret the event, but 
may we not even now at this comparatively far removed time from its occurrence 
use it in memory of him for the greater glory of God and increase of the college. 
"He being dead, yet speaketh." 

Dr. Stephen Phelps, then the pastor of the Presbyterian church at Vinton, had 
been very prominently coimected with the college ever since its reconstruction 
as Coe Collegiate Institiite in 1875. And now, when it became Coe College, under 
the care of the synod, he was invited to become its president. He was by nature 
and grace a pastor greatly beloved by his people, and very useful in the commiuiity 
at Vinton. It was a great request to make of him to ask him to lay down his 
pastoral office and undertake the new and untried work of a college president. 
And this was made especially significant because he was asked to preside not over 
an institution already well endowed, richly equipped with buildings, and pos- 
sessed of the prestige of a generation, but over an institution still in the process 
of formation, without any endowment or equipment or faculty or history. He 
paused to consider his duty, and decided to come to the college and with the help 
of God to undertake the task. 

He was a man of many gifts ; an eloquent preacher and lovable pastor who 
attracted young people to him, and a man of consecration and singleness of aim. 
His pure spirit and imtiring energy were rewarded with much success in spite of 
the many difficulties which resulted from the limitations of the new situation. 
He remained in the presidency of the college six years, when he resigned his office 
to go back to his loved work in the pastorate, to which he felt called of God. He 
became the pastor of the Presbyterian church at Council Blutfs. and has subse- 
quently served other churches, until at the i)resent time he is in charge of the 
church at Bellevue, Nebraska, where he lives enjoying the respect and aifection 
of all who know him. He will ever be cherished as the first president of Coe 
College. 

Another figure that rises very prominently and pleasantly before us, as we go 
back to this period of our history, is that of the first treasurer of Coe College, 
Mr. John C. Broeksmit. Mr. Broeksmit became the treasurer of Coe Collegiate 
Institute in 1878, and pas.sed on into the new administration in 1881, and con- 
tinued in the exercise of his duties as treasurer until he was made treasurer 
emeritus in 1903, when Mr. Jolm M. Dinwiddle, our present very efficient treasur- 
er, assumed the duties of the office which Mr. Broeksmit laid do\\ii. In the 
formative period of our college history it was very important that the charge 
of our slender funds should be i)laced in hands which were trustworthy, not 
only because of honesty, but also because of business ability and experience. Mr. 
Broeksmit possessed ideal qualities for a treasurer. As auditor of the B.. C. R. 
& N. R. R. he was accustomed to the handling and careful accounting of the funds 
of that corporation, and he brought his laiowledge, .judgment, and integrity to 
bear upon the financial affairs of the college. We always felt secure in placing 
these afi:'airs in his hands, and we were not disappointed. Besides his services as 



HISTORY OF COE COLLEGE '227 

treasurer, he also rendered valuable services as a trustee, always faithful in at- 
tendance, and trivin^ his full and entire inti'rest to the matters in hand; wise in 
counsel, kind and ^'enial in manner, and fneudly in attitude, he was a peculiarly 
attractive co-laborer. He should be written down as one who loved his fellow men. 
His decease in .March. 1907. at the afro of 82. was universally lamented. 

We note the fact that Williston Hall was completed as a lioardinjj hall and 
dormitf)ry for young ladies in 1881-1882. and the college building, which had been 
occupied more or less since September. 18tj8. for school room purposes, was en- 
larged in 1884 by an addition which simply duplicated the original building. 

In 1882 the Kev. K. H. Avery, D. I)., who had succeeded Dr. Phelps in the 
pastoral charge at Vinton when Dr. Pheljis came to Cedar Rapids to be president 
of Coe College, came into the board of trustees, and was elected president of the 
board. He remained in this office until 189!), when he removed to California 
where he sub.se(|uently died. Dr. Avery's long administration of seventeen years 
was marked by his qualities of cool, calm judgment, enlightened understanding, 
and zealous attention to educational inteivsts. He was punctual in attendance 
at the many meetings of the board, and of the executive committee, coming down 
from Vinton many times at much sacrifice of personal comfort and the laying 
aside of his pastoral work, and during that lung and eventful period, marked 
by so many changes from 1882-1899. it wa.s fortunate that we had .so wise and safe 
a president of our lioard as Eugene H. Avery. 

On the 13th of May, 1887, the Rev. James Marshall. D. I)., was elected presi- 
dent of the College to fill the vacancy caiised bj' the resignation of Dr. Phelps. 
Dr. Marshall was an alumnus of Yale University and had spent several years in 
New York City in city missionary work. He entered upon the duties of his 
oflfiee in September. 1887. He brought with him to these duties a mind matured 
and well rounded, a culture produced by wide reading and considerable foreign 
travel and residence, and an intelligent appreciation of college work. He had a 
strong sense of the value of discipline in college life. He was much assisted by 
his cultured wife, whose attractive personality won for her a valued place in the 
hearts of the students. Jlrs. Marshall di"d in Cedar Rapids after a brief illness 
in November, 1892. leaving her husband sadly alone, for there were no children 
in the household. Dr. Marshall labored on bravely in his work until September. 
1896, when, just at the opening of the college year, he was stricken down with 
pneumonia, and his death occurred after a few days amidst circumstances of pe- 
culiar .solitude. His funeral ser\'ices wc'-e conducted at the First Presbyterian 
church of this city. September 13. 1896, and the address on that occasion was 
given by Dr. J. Milton Greene, then of Ft. Dodge. Iowa, now of Havana, Cuba, 
and a life long friend of the deceased. Dr. Marshall is the only one of the presi- 
dents of our eollege who has departed this life, and he died literally in the harness. 
In summing up his life and work we avail ourselves of the words which it was our 
privilege to report to the board at their meeting October 13, 1896 : 

"He wa.s a man of power, the power that is bom of the i)ossession of a high 
ideal and con.secrated purpose and unusual faculty to organize, and an unflagging 
zeal to execute and perform. He never spared himself. He forgot himself, but 
he never forgot the college. His works do follow hint. These works which re- 
main with us !ire the strong and united faculty which he organized, and which 
he inspired with his own high ideals, the noble standard of scholarship to which 
he elevated the eurriculum, the beautiful campus, which is a wonder of improve- 
ment when we contrast it with what it was when his hands first touched it. and 
the example of industrj- and energy which his life has furnished. It seems pathe- 
tic that he should have pas.sed away without seeing the fulfillment of the hopes he 
so dearly i-herished. and the |)lans he so wisely formulated. But it is a common 
thing in this world that one should sow and another reap. One conceives the 



228 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

building of the house, but leaves it to another to build it. Yet no one evei* thinks 
that the former lives in vain." 

The college pursued its work in the j'ear 1896-7 without a president, and it is 
a happiness to note the fact that owing to the harmonious cooperation of a 
devoted faculty and a sympathetic body of students, the year passed with much 
smoothness and prosperity. 

On the 5th of August, 1897, the Rev. Samuel B. MeCormick, D. D., was called 
to the presidency of the college from the pastoral charge of the Presljyterian church 
of Omaha, Xeb. He entered upon the duties of his office with the opening of 
the college j-ear 1897. He soon made it manifest that a man of great vigor was 
directing its affairs. He went at his work with a spirit almost fierce, and he 
kept at it with a persistency that compelled things to come his way. His energy 
was contagious, and his colleagues in the faculty and on the board of trustees felt 
it from the day he came among us xmtil the day he left. The pace he kept was 
not always pleasurable, but it was always fruitful. It was during the seven years 
of his administration that great growth of the college was experienced in the size 
of the faculty, the number of the student body and increase of college buildings. 
The financial campaign that was undertaken to secure the $25,000 promised by 
Mr. Ralph Vorhees, of New Jersey, on condition of our raising $125,000 addition- 
al, was successfully conducted when Dr. MeCormick was president. It was he 
who brought to Coe College the Rev. H. H. Maynard as field secretary, and the 
two men woi-ked together with congenial vehemence and brought things to pass. 
Among the things which were brought to pass was the present college gymnasium 
a verj- useful and attractive asset. 

In the summer of 1904 Doctor jMcCormick was invited back to his old home in 
western Pennsylvania to become the chancellor of the Western University of 
Pennsylvania, located at Pittsburg, and which is now called the University of 
Pittsburg. This invitation was attractive to him chiefly because it seemed evi- 
dently to offer him unusual opportunity of enlarged usefulness in the educational 
field to which he had devoted his life. Yet it plainly caused him a struggle to 
sever his connection with Coe College, and wnth Cedar Rapids as a city. For in 
the seven years of his life here, he had become strongly attached to his friends and 
to the communit.y which were strongly attached to him. He also left this portion 
of our country, the ]\Iississippi Valley which was to his mind so full of hope and 
promise, with great reluctance., Yet it was clear to him that he ought to go, and 
we parted from him with much rcgi-et September 15, 1904. 

Marshall Hall and the Athletic Field House were erected in the summer of 
1900, the latter the gift of Mr. C. B. Soutter. The College Gymnasium was com- 
pleted in 1904. 

During the year following the departure of Doctor MeCormick the duties 
of the presidency were discharged by Dr. Stephen W. Stookey. Dr. Stookey was 
an alumnus of Coe of the class of 1884, the first class to be graduated after Coe 
became a college. He was always from the beginning greatly attached to the 
college, and after teaching a while in the schools of Manchester, Iowa, he returned 
to his alma mater in 1892 to become professor of the natural sciences. From that 
time onward he filled a place of very distinguished usefulness in the institution, 
commanding the high respect of his fellow workers in the faculty, the student 
body, and the board of trustees, iintil 1908 when he left Coe to assume the oiSce 
of the presidency of Bellevue College, Nebraska, a position which he still occupies 
very much to the benefit of that school of learning. 

At this point of our stor>- we note the fact that at the October meeting of the 
board of trustees in 1899, Mr. C. B. Soutter was made the president of the board. 
Mr. Soutter had been a resident of Cedar Rapids since 1881 when he came from 
New York cit>- to fill tlie verj^ responsible place in the business house of T. M. 




BAPTIST CHURCH, CENTRAL CITY 




A 3 F 




^'- 



OLD BARN BUILT IN THE oOs AT CENTRAL (ITV 
Now Used as a Store and Post Office 



HISTORY OF COE COLLEGE 2'_".i 

Sinclair & Company made vacant bj' the death of Mr. Sinclair. The duties of 
the management of the large packing house were very onerous and responsible, 
yet Jlr. Soutter was able, Iwsides fultilliug them, to give nuich of his valuable time 
to his duties as a trustee of the college, to which he was called in 1883. He had 
already, therefore, for many years, shown marked interest in college work and 
adaptation for it by ta.ste and c\ilture when in 18i)9 he was felt to be the logical 
successor to Dr. Averj* in the presidency. lie entered at once with zeal and 
intelligence upon his new and enlarged duties. He wa.s unintcrinitting in his 
attention to them until he resigned his ofHce in October. 1907. and. greatly to the 
regret of his brethren, withdrew from the board of trustees. 

On the 2;}rd of December. 1904. Dr. William Wilberforce Smith was chosen 
president of the college to succeed Doctor McCormick. Doctor Smith was not a 
clergyman as his predecessors had been and as hitherto has been usual with 
American colleges in their selection of a president. He had studied at I'rini-etoii 
Theological Seminary, and had bwu graduated therefrom, but he had never been 
ordained to the ministry. He had followed the vocation of a teacher, and was 
called to the presidenc.v of C'oe from the Berkely School in Xew York city, a 
school of high gratle for boys. He entered upon his duties as i)resident of Coe 
College at the upening of the college year irx)."). ami remaim-d with the college for 
three years. He is now occupying the verv honorable position of head of the 
School of Connneree and Finance in the James Millikin University, De<*atur. 
Illinois. 

His administration was marked by three notable events, all of which indicate 
stages of great progress in the history of the college : First, the successful launch- 
ing of the plans to put the college on the list of the accepted colleges of the Carne- 
gie foundation for the advancement of teaching. This took place near the close 
of the year 1908. Second, the attainment of the Science Hall, given by Mr. 
Carnegie at the cost to him of .'fB^.-lOO upon the condition that the college raise 
$45,000 for its maintenance. Third, the successful completion of a financial cam- 
paign whereby a conditional grant of $,50,000 was obtained from the General 
Board of Education [John D. Rockefeller Foundation] on the condition that the 
college pay all its debts and raise in various funds the sum of .$200.(X)0 additional 
for endowment and buildings. This eamoaign increased the assets of the college 
by .$293,000. 

It was during this campaign that the services of the Rev. Dr. II. II. Maynard. 
field secretary- of the college, were so peculiarl.v strenuous and so unitiuely valu- 
able. Dr. ^laynard merits most honorable mention for his bold conceptions and 
his heroic execution of them, wherein the word "fail" was expunged from his 
dictionarj-. Dr. Mavnard left Coe College in the summer of 1908 and has become 
the vice president and field .secretary of the I'niversit.v of Omaha. Nebraska. 

In the j-ear 1908-9 which followed the lesignation of Dr. Smith, the college was 
governed by a commi.ssion of fo\ir members of the faculty, who distributed among 
themselves the duties of administration. The result wa.s a smooth and prosperous 
year, although at the end of it all parties concerned were looking very wishfully 
towards a filling of the vacant office of tb-- presidency. At length, on the 7th of 
September. 1909. Rev. Dr. John Abner Manpiis. jjastor of the Presbyterian church 
at Beaver. Pa., was chosen to be the head of the college. After due deliberation 
he decided to accept the call, and on the 12th of October. 1909. he was presented 
to the students and friends of the college as the president-elect. He returned to 
Beaver to sever his relations with the church there, with the Presbytery and synod, 
and he came in December and entered upon his duties. On the 1.3th of June, 
1910, in connection with the exercises of commencement week. Doctor Marquis 
was formally inaugurated president of Coe College. This was the first time in 
which formal exerci.ses of this character were observed in connection with setting 
a president over the institution, and the occasion was greeted accordingly with 



230 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

peculiar pleasure, and large use was made of it to perfect a relationship which 
it is believed augurs great things to the advantage of the college. Doctor Marquis 
has been so short a time in his office that it would be too soon to speak of what he 
has done, but it is not too soon to say that in the brief period in which he has been 
president of the college, he has already awakened the fondest hopes and most stead- 
fast convictions that under his administration the institution over which he pre- 
sides is destined to move forward to a future which will far surpass any measure 
of size and value that it ever attained in the past. 

On the same week in last June in the midst of the commencement season which 
witnessed the inauguration of Doctor Marquis, groimd was broken on the college 
campus by Mr. Robert S. Sinclair for a chapel in memory of his father, Mr. Thomas 
M. Sinclair. This memorial chapel was prepared for almost thirty years ago very 
soon after Mr. Sinclair's death, but the execution of the purpose has been long 
delayed. But now at last we see our thoughts and wishes about to be realized in 
the erection of a building which shall from its beauty and the purposes which it 
is destined to fulfill be a worthy monument to keep in perpetual remembrance a 
man, who, in his life-time, did so much to make it possible for us to have a college 
at all. 

We have now accomplished the purpose for which we set out. "We have, to 
the best of our ability, traced the historj' of Coe College from its beginnings to 
the present time. We have followed the aistitution from its fountain head in the 
heart and home of the Rev. Williston Jones, when a handful of young men gath- 
ered in his parlor for such elementary instruction as could be given by the zealous 
pastor and his wife, down to the present day, when more than three- hundred stu- 
dents, young men and maidens, gather in the halls of buildings erected and 
equipped for college purposes, and one of these buildings at least prepared and 
provided along the most progressive modem lines, the equal of any in the land. 
Today the faculty of thirty-two persons conducts the teaching of a curriculum 
which embraces every department of learning that is recognized as belonging to a 
liberal education. And these teachers have been prepared for their work by 
special training and selection. 

The endowment also has grown from the paltry sum of $1,500, furnished in 
1853 by Daniel Coe, to the sum of $450,000, and the total amount of money in- 
vested in the plant known as Coe College must exceed $750,000, which is surely 
no mean aggregate. 

In the course of our history, we have seen a feeble rivulet sink at least twice in 
the sands only to reappear with new volu-ne and freshness further down the bed 
of the stream. And we see it now a river of such dimension that it cannot dis- 
appear again. We have seen the work of the heroic men who have nobly spent 
upon the college in the days when it sorely needed their help. Such men 
were not wanting in the days of emergency but were sent from God. They could 
not have known as we now can plainly .see what they were doing. They wrought 
in faith what it is now given us to possess in sight. They sowed in weakuess what 
we now reap in power. Surely the lesson is plain and impressive ; surely the teach- 
ing of this historical sketch is to the purport that we with our larger resources 
should enrich the institution which they sustained and promoted in their poverty. 

They could not see how much worth their while it was to give and labor for 
Cedar Rapids Collegiate Institute, for Parsons Seminary, for Coe Collegiate 
Institute, for the institution was then but a tender, feeble shoot, whose future 
development was an uncertainty. We now can plainly see that it is well worth our 
while to give and labor for Coe College, for it is now one of the most potent and 
promising of all the colleges in this Mississippi valley. And every intelligent mind 
who has any powers of observation and has any experience of college work, knows 
full well that as colleges grow and prosper thej- need more financial help. It would 



HISTORY OF COE COLLEGE 2:U 

be the extreme of selfishness and folly to take the view that Coe College is now 
strong enough and rich enough to advance on its present assets to meet its futiire. 
Its needs are greater than ever. But it present* itself not as a beggar or a 
suppliant, but as a splendid opportunity for investment. It presents it-self as 
the finest po.ssible plaee to locate something to be spent in buildings, ecpiipment, 
and endowment whereby in the course of the years, and we may even say the cen- 
turies to come, this money can go on yielding the riche.st conceivable dividends 
in the preparation for life and leadershij) of those of our choicest young men and 
women who shall come hither from near and far to enjoy the privileges of a college 
education. And thus as we close, our history becomes really an appeal. 



CHAPTER XXV 

The Old Blair BuiUing 

The Kimball building in Cedar Rapids stands on the site of an old land- 
mark — the Blair building. This building, with the land and railroad companies 
it housed from time to time, was the center of much history in the development of 
Iowa, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. It is difficult for us to realize now what an 
immense influence these companies in the early days had in the settling up of the 
central west. A debt of gratitude is due the men who risked their fortiuies in 
this developing work that many of us now are too apt to forget. Had it not been 
for the railroads these early patriots projected into the unsettled portions of these 
states the development of the west would have been greatly retarded. Immigra- 
tion would have been slow, for people are never eager to settle in farming communi- 
ties where there is lack of transportation facilities to get the produce of the 
farms to market. 

It is felt that a brief account of the influences that went out from tliis center 
is entirely appropriate here. In fact it is needed as a part of this history of 
Linn county. Greatly to our regret the gentleman responsible for the historical 
data given below wishes his name withheld, but through modesty only. What 
is here printed was furnished by one who knows whereof he speaks, for as 
Virgil once wrote, "of it he was a great part." 

THE BLAIR BUILDING 

John I. Blair, of Blairstown, New Jersey, being then the president of several 
railroad companies having their general offices and official headquarters at Cedar 
Rapids, erected a building to furnish adequate room for the business of these 
companies and for the First National Bank of Cedar Rapids, in which he was 
heavily interested. This building was kno\vn as the "Blair Building." In its 
time it was much the most pretentious structure in the city. It was located at 
the comer of Eagle and Adams streets — now Third street and Second avenue — 
was two stories in heighth with a high mansard roof, and set above and back from 
the street. The plans for this building were made by W. W. Boyington, then the 
most prominent architect in Chicago. It was w'hat might be termed of the "court 
house" stj'le, having more the appearance of a public building than one erected 
for commercial purposes. 

On May 23, 1868, Mrs. Mary A. Ely purchased of A. C. Churchill, for Mr. 
Blair, lots 6. 7, and 8 in block 15, including the brick dwelling house thereon, for 
the sum of $10,000. Mrs. Ely afterwards conveyed this land to Mr. Blair, who 
deeded it to himself and Oakes Ames as trustees for the several companies who 
contributed to the cost of the land and the buildings. 

The work of construction began in the autumn of 1868. The building was 
completed and occupied in the spring or early summer of 1869. The total cost 
of the land, the new building, and the overhauling of the dwelling house was 
$54,418, which was paid by the Cedar Rapids and ^Missouri River R-ailroad Com- 
pany. The Iowa Rail Road Land Company, the Iowa Falls and Sioux Citj' Rail- 
road Company, the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Company, and the First 
National Bank of Cedar Rapids. 




JAMKS K. HAKLAN, LL. D. 
President Cornell College 



THE OI.D BLAIR BUILDING 233 

In 1870 the dwelling house and the land lying southwesterlj* of the wall of 
the Blair building was sold to John F. Ely for $11,000. In 1884 the First 
National liank conveyed its interest to tlie Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad 
Company, and thereafter, until the liciuidation of the bank in 1886, occupied the 
banking room as a tenant. When the bank had gone out of busines.s, the rail- 
roads had been sold and the oftiees moved away, and the real estate holdings of 
the com|)anies very largi'ly reduced, the owners having no use for the space for 
their own i)urposes, and the Imilding being so constructed as not to be useful 
for commercial jmrposcs. it was decided to sell the property. It was advertised 
for .Side. A customer not being found at private sale, it was .sold at public auction 
on May 2. 1888, to David I'. Kind)all. of Boston. ."\Ias.sachusctts, for $25,000. 

Mr. Kimball, together with his brother L. C. Kimball, of Boston, J. Van 
Deventer. then of Clinton but later of Knoxville, Tennessee, J. E. Ainsworth. 
then of ('ouncil Bluffs but later of Williamstown, Vermont, and 1*. E. Hall and 
Henry V. Ferguson of Cedar Rapids, organized the Kimball Building Company, 
to whom the i)ro])erty was I'onveyetl. 

During the year 1888 the Kimball Building Company rebuilt the Blair Build- 
ing, extending its exterior walls out to the street line and added a new portion 
so as to cover the entire lot. making the building when so completed 76 feet on 
Second avenue and 140 feet on Third street, four stories high, and thereafter 
known as the "Kimball Building." 

In addition to being the president of all of these railroad companies, Mr. 
lilair after ]8t)l.' gave [icrsonal attention t) their construction and was in absolute 
control of their affairs in the west. These railroads came to be called the "Blair 
Koads, " and were so generally spoken of in the public prints. From this people 
generally came to think that he was nearly the .sole owner of all, or at least per- 
sonally owned a controlling interest in the whole group. This, however, was not 
the fact. Mr. Blair's individual ownersiiip averaged about one-sixth, about 
another sixth being owned by his a.ssoeiates in the Lackawana Iron & Coal Com- 
pany of Benn.sylvania. among which were Joseph II. Scranton. of Scranton. I'a. ; 
Moses Taylor, of New York, and William E. Dodge. D. Willis James, antl James 
Stokes, who then comprised the firm of I'helps, Dodge & Company. 

The controlling interest was always owned by a group of New FIngland capi- 
talists and their a.s.soeiates, who were at the .same time the controlling stockholders 
in the Chicago. Iowa & Nebraska Railroad Com|)any — the line already con- 
structed from Clinton to Cedar Rai^ids. Among these latter were Oakes and 
Oliver Ames, of North Eastim, .Mass.: John Bertram, of Salem. Ma.ss. ; Charles 
A. Lambard. of Maine and later of New York; William T. Glidden. Da\'id P. 
Kindiall. Joseph and Frederic Niekerson. of Boston, and Horace Williams, of 
Clinton. Iowa. 

THE CEDAR KAPIUS AND MIS.SOCkl RIVER R.\1LR0.\D 

In May. 1856. congress pa.s.sed what was then called "The Iowa Land Bill," 
making grants of land to the state of Iowa to aid in the construction of four lines 
of railway across the state, one of which was to be from Lyons City, thence "north- 
westerly to a point of intersection with the main line of the Iowa Central Kail- 
roa«l near Maipioketa. thence on said main line running as near as practicable 
to the 4L'nd parallel across the state of Iowa to the Mis,souri River." The 
general a.s.sembly of the state by an act approved July 14. 1856, granted the land 
inuring to the ^tate fur the construction of this line to the Iowa Central Air 
Line Railroad Company u|)on certain conditions contained in said act. That 
company benan the construction of the road in the year 1856, considerable grading 
was done at different point.s along the line as far west as Anamosa. but the panic 
of 1857 coming on the work was .stopped and never again resumed by the Iowa 
Central Air Line Company. 



234 HISTORY OF IJNN COUNTY 

It being quite probable that at the next legislative session the state would 
resume this land grant and forfeit the rights of the Iowa Central Company, and 
pass the grant over to some other company who would undertake the construction 
of the road, for the purpose of obtaining this grant, the Cedar Rapids and Jlissouri 
River Railroad Company was organized on June 14, 1859, by the prominent east- 
ern stockholders in the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad, together with John 
Weare and John F. Ely, of Cedar Rapids, and G. M. Woodbury, of ilarshalltown, 
Iowa. 

In March, 1860, the state resvimed the land grant from the Iowa Central Com- 
pany and made it over to the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad, Work 
was begun on the line west from Cedar Rapids in 1860. The bridge over the 
Cedar river was built in the winter of 1860-61, and forty miles of track com- 
pleted to Otter Creek Station (now Chelsea) during the year 1861, and to Mar- 
shalltown in December, 1862. Milo Smith, of Clinton, Iowa, was the chief en- 
gineer and had charge of the construction of the road until it reached Marshall- 
town, 

In 1861 John I. Blair became largely interested in this enterprise, and there- 
after took control of the construction beyond Marshalltown. After 1862 W. W. 
Walker was chief engineer imtil the road was finished. Track was laid to State 
Center in 1863, and on July 4, 1864, to Nevada, and to Boone in December, 1864, 
but the road was not surfaced up, fini.shed and put in operation from Nevada 
to Boone imtil the succeeding year. 

In July, 1864, eongre.ss made an additional grant of land to the Cedar Rapids 
and Missouri River Railroad, and authorized it to change its line of road so as to 
connect with the Union Pacific Railroad at Council Bluffs. Work beyond Boone 
began in December, 1865, the track was laid into Council Bluffs in January, 1867, 
but regular service between Woodbine and Council Bluffs was not instituted until 
April of that year. 

In July, 1862, the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad was leased in 
perpetuity to the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company, which company 
then owned the line from Chicago west to the Mississippi River opposite Clinton, 
Iowa, and operated the Chicago, Iowa and Nebra.ska Railroad under lease. The 
lease covered not only the portion of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Rail- 
road then built, but the entire line to the Missouri river when the .same should be 
completed. 

On June 2, 1864, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company was con- 
solidated with the Chicago and North-Wi-stern Railway, and from that time the 
operation of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad under the lease was 
by the Chicago and North-Western Railway Company. 

L. B. Crocker, of Oswego, N. Y., was the first president of the Cedar Rapids 
and Missouri River Railroad, and until 18G6. Mr. Crocker during this period was 
active in the financial affairs of the company, and especially in obtaining the land 
grant from the state and the supplement! 1 grant direct from the Ignited States. 
Wliile not a man of large means, he was possessed of great energy and foresight. 

John I. Blair was president from 1866 to 1871, when he was succeeded by 
Horace Williams, who remained the president luitil the company went out of 
existence in 1884, 

In 1884 the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad was sold to the Chicago 
and North- Western Railway. It was in fact a consolidation, but for convenience 
in handling the transaction it was made a sale, the Cedar Rapids Company deedirg 
its railroad and all rights and franchises pertaining thereto to the Chicago and 
North-Western Railway Company, receiving its pny in the stock of the latter 
company, wliich stock was distributed pro rata to thr stockholders of the Cedj^r 
Rapids and Missouri River Company, after which the Cedar Rapids and Missoi'.ri 
River Railroad Company closed up its affairs and went out- of business. 



THE OLD BLAIR BUILDING 235 

THE SIOUX CITY AND PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY 

An act of congress pasised in 1862 authorized and rt'f|uired the Union Pacific 
Railroad Company to constnict a raiiniad and tcie^'raph line from Sioux City to 
a connection with the Iowa branch of the Union Pacific Railroad, whenever there 
should be a line of railroad completed through Minnesota or Iowa to Sioux City, 
Iowa. On July 2. 1864, the original Union Pacific act was amended, and among 
other things it was provided that the Union Pacific Railroad was released from 
the construction of said branch, and such company as should be organized under 
the laws of Iowa, Minnesota, Dakota or Nebraska, and lie by the president of the 
Unit«Hl States designated and ai)proved for that purposi'. was authorized to con- 
struct said branch and receive therefor lands and subsidy bonds to the same ex- 
tent that the Union Pacific Railroad would have done under the act of 1862. It 
was further provided that if a railroad should not be completed to Sioux City 
across Iowa or Minnesota within eighteen months after the passage of said act, 
then the company which should have been so designated might commence, con- 
tinue and complete the construction of said Sioux City branch. 

The Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Company was organized in August, 1864, 
to construct this branch line and was by tlie president of the United States desig- 
nated and approved for that purpose. The eorporatoi-s and first board of direc- 
tors were Piatt Smith, L. B. Crmker. M. K. Jesup, James P. Wilson, A. \V. Hub- 
bard, Charles A. Lanibard, Frederick Sehuchardt, William B. Allison, and John 
I. Blair. Soon afterwards the Sioux City and Pacific Company passed under the 
control of Mr. Blair and his associates in the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River 
Railroad. The necessary money to build and equip the Sioux City and Pacific 
was princi()ally furnished by them. The general offices of the company were 
first at Dubuque, but on the passing of the control to the Cedar Rapids people 
headquarters were moved to Cedar Rapids. 

Construction was l)egun in the spring of 1867. The Cedar Rapids and Mis- 
souri River Company built six and a half miles of railroad from Missouri Valley 
Junction to California Junction, where it connected with the line of the Sioux 
City and Pacific These six and a half miles were turned over to the latter com- 
pany. Track laying began at California Junction in September. 1867. Thir- 
ty-six miles were completed by the first day of December, 1867. and the line to 
Sioux City in Februar>', 1868. Early in 1869 the entire line was completed and 
in ojieration between Missouri Valley Junction and Sioux City and Ut Fremont, 
Nebraska, where connection was made with the Union Pacific Railroad. The 
cars were ferried acro.ss the Missouri river (luring the suiiiiner months, and crossed 
on a temporary bridge during the winter months up to the fall of 1883, when the 
bridge acrass the river was completed and opened up for business. L. Burnett 
was the engineer in charge of construction of this railroad and superintendent 
in its operation until January 1. 1878. 

This company re('eiv(>d from the United States a grant of land comprising the 
alternate se<'tions within twenty miles on either side of the line of the railroad. 
But as nearly all of the government land within these limits had already l)een 
disposed of, and where the grant of this company lapped over the grant to the 
Union Pacific Railroad, each company received half, so this congressional grant 
only amounted to about 42,500 acres. Tnere was acquired through a consolida- 
tion with the Nebraska Air Line Railroad a state land grant of 46.000 acres. The 
company received from the United States a loan of six per cent bonds to the 
extent of $16,00fl per mile of road constructed between Sioux City and Fremont, 
and issued its own first mortgage bonds to an equal amount. 

This company up to August, 1884. operated its own road and also Ieas<»d and 
operated the F'remont, Elkhom & Mi.sswiri Valley road, as the same was from 
time to time extended. The earnings of the railroad were never sufficient to pay 



236 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

the interest on the first mortgage bonds. The avails of the two land grants and 
the proceeds of the sales of the town lots along the line up to 1875 (when the 
remaining land assets were sold to the ^Missouri Valley Land Company) were 
used to make up the deficiency. After tliese assets were exhausted the Cedar 
Rapids and Missouri River, and Chicago, iowa and Nebraska Railroad companies, 
through loans and other methods of assistance, made up the deficit until the sale 
of all of these roads in 1884. 

In 1880 the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska, and the Cedar Rapids and Missouri 
River companies by purchase from the individual stocldiolders acquired over nine- 
ty per cent of the capital stock of the Sioux City Company. This stock was in 
the treasury of these railroads at the time of their purchase by the Chicago and 
North-Western Railway Company in 1884. Through and under that purchase 
the Chicago and Xorth-Wcstern Railway Company became the controlling owner 
of the Sioux City and Pacific and moved its general and operating offices away 
from Cedar Rapids. 

John I. Blair was the first president of the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad 
Company and was .succeeded by Horace Williams in 1871. ilr. Williams was 
president until the fall of 1877, when he resigned and was succeeded by Oliver 
Ames. Mr. Ames remained president until the control of the railroad passed 
into the Chicago and North- Western Railway Company. 

THE IOWA FALLS AND SIOUX CITY R.AILROAD COMPANY 

In the Iowa Land Bill of 1856 a grant was made to aid the construction of a 
line of railroad from Dubuque to Sioux City on the same tenns as fixed for the 
other three trunk lines across the state, viz : a grant of everj' odd numbered sec- 
tion within six miles on either side of the railroad, and where such odd numbered 
sections had already been disposed of by the United States, the railroads were 
authorized to select an equal number of acres from the odd numliered sections 
within fifteen miles of the line of the railroad. This grant was given over ])y the 
state of Iowa to the Dubuque and Pacific Railroad Company, which company 
began the work of construction but afterwards failed and w'as reorganized as the 
Dubuque and ^ioux City Railroad Company. This last named company contin- 
ued from time to time to extend the line westwardly, so that in 1867 it was com- 
pleted and in operation to Iowa Falls. 

Considerable right-of-way had been acquired between Iowa Falls and Fort 
Dodge and the grading already commenced when a sale and transfer of the right- 
of-way, the uncompleted work and the portion of the land grant belonging to the 
line west of Iowa Falls, was made to John I. Blair and his associates. The Iowa 
Falls and Sioux Citj- Railroad Company was organized on October 1, 1867, and 
on January 7, 1868, by a contract of that date, took over from the Dubuque and 
Sioux City Company all the right-of-way west of Iowa Falls and the work already 
done, also the proportion of the land grant inuring to the line west of Iowa Falls 
and all of the rights and franchises of the Dubuque & Sioux Citj- Company per- 
taining to that portion of the line. 

Prior to this date, viz: on September 13. 1867, the Dnbutiue and Sioux City 
Railroad Company leased to the Illinois Central Railroad Company the portion 
of its road already constructed to Iowa Falls and also the line to be thereafter 
built from Iowa Falls to Sioux City. This lease was for twenty years or in perpe- 
tuity at the option of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. The legislature of 
the state of Iowa on April 7. 1868, passed an act ratif>-ing the said sale by the 
Dubuque and Sioux City Company and vesting the land grant in the Iowa Falls 
Company. 

The work begun by the Dubuque and Sioux City Company was vigorously 
prosecuted so that the road was completed and in operation to Fort Dodge early 




CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CENTRAL CITY 




CHRISTIAN CHURCH, CENTRAL CITY 



THE OLD BLATK RriT.T^lxr; j:;: 

in 1869. In the fall of 1870 it was finished through to Sioux City and the entire 
line turned over to the Illinois Central Railroad Company for operation under 
tlie lease. J. E. Ainsworth was superinti'iidcut of construction. In tiie oritiiim! 
articles of incorporation the princii)ai place of business of tiiis company was fixed 
at l)ul>U(|Ue, Iowa, imt in October. 1 Stilt, the articles were amended ami the main 
office of the company moved to Cedar Ka|)ids. .John I. HIair was the first |)resi- 
dent. He was succeeded in 1871 l)y Horace Williams, who remained at the head 
of the affairs of the company until the control of the sanie pa.ssed into the hands 
of the Illinois (^entral Railroad. 

In March, 1SS7, the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company sold to 
the Iowa Rail Road Land Company the remaininfr acres of its land f,'rant and all 
assets accruing:: from lantl tninsaclions. At that time all of the individual stock- 
holders of the railroad comjiany sold their shares to the Illinois Central Railroad 
Company, who moved the offices of the corporation from Cedar Rapids to Duhuque, 
and afterwards eon.«olidated the company with the Dubuque and Sioux City Rail- 
road Company. 

THE FREMONT. EI.KHORN AND MISSOCRI VALLEY R.\lLkO.AI) COMPANY 

This company, while a Nebraska corporation, soon after its orfranization and 
up to 1884 kept its general offices and accounting department in the Blair build- 
ing in Cedar Rapids. It was organized at Fn>mont, Nebraska, in January, 181)9, 
to construct a line of railroad up the Elkhorn Valley, in Nebra.ska, and obtained 
a land grant from the state of Nebraska amounting to about 100,000 acres, also 
some county bonds from Dodge and Cuming counties, Ncbra-ska. In ISfiO John I. 
Blair and his assix-iates in the Sioux City and Pacific, and the Cedar Rapids and 
Mis.s(niri River enterprises obtained control of the company, and undertook the 
eonstniction of the railroad. Ten miles of track north from Fremont were laid 
late in the season of 1869. In 1870 the road wa.s finished to "West Point, and lea-sed 
to the Sioux City and Pacific Company, which company from that time on 
continued to operate (under said lease) the several extensions of the Elkhorn 
road up to Auirust. 18S4. In 1871 the road wa.s extended to Wisner, a distance 
of fifty-one miles from Fremont, where the terminus remained until 1879. in 
which year the main line was built to Oakdale, and six miles of track laid on the 
Creighton branch north from Norfolk. In 1880 the main line was extended from 
Oakdale to Neligh. and the Creighton branch finished to Plainview. In 1881 the 
main line was extended to Long Pine, and the Creighton branch finished to 
Creighton. In 1882 the main line was extended to Thatcher, and in 188:3 to 
Valentine. In August, 1884 — at the time of the purchase of the Iowa roads 
by the Chicago & Northwestern — this last named company acquired all the stock 
in the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, and thereafter the work of 
extension was pushed vigorously. 

In the two succeeding years a line was built into the Black Hills country and 
the main line of the road extended to the eastern boundary of the state of Wy- 
oming. Between 1884 and 1888 several lines of railroad in the south Platte 
country of .Nebraska were constructed by the F'rcmont. Elkhorn & Missouri Valley 
Company. L. Biiniett wa.s engineer in charge of loc.-ition and construction until 
the road was completed to Wisner. From 1879 to 1SS9 — during which period 
the main line from Wisner to the west line of the state, the Black Hills branch as 
far as Wliitewood, and the South Platte lines were built — P. E. Ilall was super- 
intendent of eonstniction and J. E. Ainsworth chief engineer. John I. Blair 
was the pres'dcnt frf)m 1Sf)9 to 1S7'2. Prince S. Cniwell, of Ea.st Dennis. Ma.ss- 
aehasetts, from 1872 to 187ti, ami James Hlair. of Scranton. Pennsylvania, from 
1876 to 188.^, when he was siicceedeil by Horace Williams, who remained the 
president of the company until the control was taken by the Chicago & North- 
Western Railway Company in 1884. 



238 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

THE MAPLE RIVER R.AILROAD 

The major portion of the land grant to the Cedar Rapids and jMissouri River 
Railroad — transferred to The Iowa Rail Road Land Company — was situated 
north of the main line of the Cedar Rapids & ilissouri River Railroad. In 1876 a 
large portion of several counties was vacant and still the property of the land com- 
pany, so the f-tockholders interested in the Cedar Rapids & ^lissouri River Railroad 
and The Iowa Rail Road Land Company decided to build branch lines north 
from the main line to the end that purchasers might be found for the land and 
thus settle up the countrj', and furnish business for the main line. The Maple 
River Railroad Company was organized in that year to build these lines. The 
money for the building of the same was furnished by the stockholders in the Cedar 
Rapids and Missouri River, and Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska companies, they 
taking the stock and bonds of the Maple River Railroad Company issued for 
construction. The road was leased to the Chicago & North-Western Railway 
Company in advance of construction. Work was begini in the fall of 1876. and 
in 1877 the line was completed from ilaple River Junction to ]\Iapleton, a distance 
of about sixty miles. 

In 1879 a branch was built from Wall Lake Junction to Sac City. This Sac 
City branch was extended to Holstein in 1882. and in 1883 to Kingsley. The 
building of the above lines was under control of P. E. Hall, vice president. J. E. 
Ainsworth was the eliief engineer. In 1884 when the Cedar Rapids and Missouri 
River, Chicago, Iowa and Nebra.ska, and Sioux City and Pacific roads were pur- 
chased by the Chicago & North-Western, the Maple River Railroad was included 
in the sale, and from that time on became a part of the Chicago & North-Western 
Railway, which company has since extended the branch line from Kingsley to 
Sargeants Bluffs, thus making another through line from the east into Sioux 
City, and also extended the main line from Mapleton to Onawa. 

THE MISSOURI VALLEY AND BLAIR RAILWAY \- BRIDGE COMPANY 

In 1882 congress granted to the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Company the 
right to build a bridge across the Missouri river to connect the Iowa and Nebra.ska 
portions of its railway at the point where the line crosses the river between 
Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Blair, Nebraska. The Sioux City & Pacific Company 
not being finaneiall.y able to undertake the work, assigned its rights under said 
act to the Missouri Valley and Blair Railway & Bridge Company, which company 
was organized in 1882 for the purpose of biiilding the bridge and its approaches. 
The capital stock of the bridge company was subscribed for by the several rail- 
road companies whose roads made up the through line from Fremont to Chicago, 
viz : the Sioux City and Pacific, Cedar Rapids and Missouri River, Chicago, Iowa 
& Nebraska, and the Chicago & North-Western companies, each taking stock in 
proportion to its mileage in the through line between Fremont and Chicago. 
The money for the construction of the bridge was raised principally by the sale 
of bonds, which bonds were guaranteed — both principal and interest — by the 
several railroad companies who were stockholders in the bridge company. Work 
was begun early in the summer of 1882 and the bridge completed and opened for 
traffic in November, 1883. 

When the bridge was opened for business it had cost about $1,300,000, of 
which $400,000 was for the bridge proper across the channel of the river and the 
other $900,000 for the approaches and protection work. Several hundred 
thousand dollars have since been expended in protecting the river banks so as to 
hold the channel of the river under the bridge. After its completion the bridge 
was operated by the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Company under a contract. 



THE OLD BLAIH BU1LI)1X(J 239 

Horace Williams was the president of tlie bridge company from the date of 
orpaniziUion to the time when the eontroj passed to the Cliieago & Xortii- Western 
Railway. P. K. Hall was vice president and in trenera! charge of constrnetion. 
Georpe S. Morrison was the engineer who made the plans and directed the biiild- 
ing of the l)ridne. When the Chieafro & N'orth-Westi'rn Railway Company took 
over the Cedar Rapids and Missoiin River and the otiier roads in 1S,S4. it became 
the owner of the entire i-apita! stock of tlie bridge company and moved the ac- 
counting ollices away from Cedar Rajtids. 

The total grants of lands to these companies by the United States, the state 
of Nebraska, and several counties in Iowa, amounted in the aggregate to about 
one million, nine hundred and ninety thousand acres. As the several railroads 
were projei-ted it was the policy of the comjianies to acfpiire land around the 
stations and plat and sell town lots. For convenience in tlistrilmtion of the 
proceeds to the st<K-l\holders, anil in handling the real est;ite. land anil town lot 
companies were organized from time to time to take over and di.spo.se of not only 
the land grant lands but of the purchased lands and town lots. 

THE IOWA R.\IL ROAD LAND COMPANY 

This company was organized in 1869 and its capital stock distributed pro 
ratji amonir the stockholders of the Cedar Rjipids and Missouri River Railroad. 
The land grant of that railroad company was conveyed to the land company on 
September lo. 1869. In 1887 the Iowa Rail Road Land Company bought from 
the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company for cash, all of its remaining 
unsold lands and the bills receivable, and other a.ssets resulting from previous 
wilea. 

From time to time thereafter, through consolidation and pureha.s(>, all of the 
remaining real estat4^ and bills re<'eivable of these several land and town lot com- 
panies and of the .Moingona Coal Company, which were luider common control, 
passed to the ownership of The Iowa Rail Road Land Company. 

The Cedar Ra|iids and Missouri River Railroad was finished in 1867. and the 
land grant completely earned then. From that time on the officers of the rail- 
road company and of its succes.sor, the land company, fop thirty-five years per- 
sistently and continuously worked to have this land grant finally ad.justed so 
that the tracts actually granted might be definitely known and the companies 
receive evidence of title thereto. Their etTorts were finally successful in 1902. 

John I. Blair was the first president of this company. Horace Williams was 
president from 1>*71 to 1872. In 1872 J. Van Deventer. then of Clinton. Iowa, 
and later of Knoxville, Tennessee, was eleirtcd president and remained so until 
1889. since which time P. E. Hall has been the president of this company. 

Henrj' V. Ferguson, now vice president of this company, came into the employ 
of these companies in 1868. and has been continuously in their ser\'iee since that 
time. P. K. Hall has been an officer of The Iowa Rail Road Land Company 
since 1871. 

THE TOWN LOT COMPANIES 

The Blair Town Lot and Land Comi)any was organized in June. 1871, and 
took over the un.sold town lots and ])urchascd laiiils along the line of the Odar 
Rapids and Missouri River Railroad, and also the avails from previous sales. 
It was consolidated with The Iowa Rail Road Land Company in 1888. 

The Sioux City and Iowa Falls Town Lot and Land Compan.v, organized in 
1871 to disposi' of the town lots and pun-based lands ali)ng the Iowa Falls and 
Sioux City railroad betwi-en Iowa Falls and Sioux City, was consolidated with 
The Iowa Rail Road Land ("ompany in 1888. 



240 HISTORY OF LINX COUNTY 

The ElUhoru Land and Towti Lot Company was organized under the laws of 
the state of Nebraska in Fe1n-uary, 1871. There was conveyed to this company 
the land grant made to the Fremont, Elkhorn and ilissouri Valley road, also 
the purchased lands and town lots at the several stations between Fremont and 
Wi.sner. This eom]ianv was consolidated with The Iowa Rail Road Land Companv 
in 1899. 

The capital stock of these three companies was issued pro rata to the stock- 
holders of the respective railroad companies along the lines of which these town 
lot companies re.speetively operated. 

The Mi.ssouri Valley Land Company was organized in jNIaj', 1875, and pur- 
chased for cash the remaining unsold portion of the land grant of the Sioux City 
and Pacific Railroad Company, as well as the unsold town lots and purchased 
lands l)elonging to that company. This company was consolidated with The 
Iowa Rail Road Land Company on May 3, 1901. 

THE MOINGONA COAL COMPANY 

When the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad was extended west from 
Boone there was purchased for account of the stockholders of that company cer- 
tain timber and coal lands at and near Moingona — where the line of railroad 
crosses the Des Jloines river. The Moingona Coal Company was organized in 
June, 1866. These coal and timber lands were conveyed to that company, and 
its shares of capital stock ultimatel.y allotted pro rata to those stockholders in the 
Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad, who had furnished the mone.v for the 
construction of the line west of Boone — known as the third division of the Cedar 
Rapids and Jlissouri River Railroad. The town of ^loingona was platted and put 
upon the market and coal mines opened at that point, which mines were operated 
continuously for about twenty years. In 1899 mining operations had ceased and 
the personal property of the coal company having been closed out, the remaining 
real estate was turned over to The Iowa Rail Road Land Company. 

The aggregate sales up to 1910 made by these railroads, land and to\vn lot 
companies and this coal company, including land grant lands, purchased lands, 
and town lots, amount to sixteen million, six hundred and sixteen thousand dol- 
lars. The taxes paid by said companies on .said real estate while held by them 
amount to two million, seven hundred and forty-seven thousand dollars. 

For many years it has been fa.shionable for magazine writers and a certain 
class of politicians to severely criticise and condemn the public men of that day 
for their action in making land grants to railroad companies. The members of 
congress have been characterized as imbecile and corrupt, and the recipients of 
land grants denounced as thieves and robbers. "While it is quite probable that 
in some cases sufficient care was not exercised, and that such grants sometimes 
have been a little too liberal, looking at the situation as it was in those days and 
the subsequent results, there can be no doubt whatever that the policy was a 
sound one and the action of congress in most of the ca.ses exactly right. 

A large portion of what is now kno^^^l as "the middle west" then consisted 
of vast unbroken stretches of prairie land, impossible of settlement becatise of the 
want of timber for fuel and building purposes. This territory could not sup- 
port a population until transportation facilities were provided for carrying in 
the necessary lumber, fuel, and supplies, and cariying away the agricultural 
products as the land should become cultivated. The price of the land at private 
entry was then $1.25 i)er aere. The government gave half of the lands within 
the land grant limits to the railroads and immediately advanced the price on the 
even sections to $2.50 per acre, not only getting the same amount of money for 
the same acreage, but making sales of the government land much more rapidl.v. 




SCENE AT TROY MILLS 




MILL AND DAM, COGGON 



THE OLT^ BLATR FU'ILinXG 241 

Soon after the first of these grants was made it became the policy of the 
goveminent to give away its public lands to actual settlers. Until the railroads 
were built through these vast bodies of vacant lantls it had not been iiossible for 
the United States to even give away its lands, liut after the construction of such 
roads the whole of this vast territorj' was i!i a few years occui)ied by actual set- 
tlers. This settlement and the growth in population and wealth resulting' tiicre- 
from have more than any one thing contributed to the present greatness of this 
United States. 

The land grant railroads taken as a whole have not been a source of much 
profit to the original .stock and bond lioldei-s. In many cases the companies have 
l)een fon'Vd into extensive and costly litigation to protect their rights; taxing 
authorities — both county and state — have regarded these land grant companies 
as legitimate prey. The fact that these several lines of road were built in ad- 
vance of settlenjent and civilization in almost every instance, made the first 
earnings of the roads insufficient to pay interest on bonds issued for construction, 
let alone dividends tt) stockholders, so that (piite often a large portion of the 
avails of the sales of these lands had to be used to pay interest on the bonds. 

A majority of the laud grant railroads have gone through reorganization and 
foreclosure, some of them several times. In the cases where there has been a 
profit to the original investors, it has been no greater than it ought to have been 
considering the risks run. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

Some of the Old Cemeteries 

The father of Osgood Shepherd, wlio died iii the summer of 1839. was interred 
at the top of the hill above the tracks on A avenue in Cedar Rapids where the 
Cedar Rapids Candy Company has erected a building. During the excavation 
several other graves were found, but it is not known who were buried there. 

Another cemetery where a number of old settlers were buried was on 
Fifth avenue and Eighth street where W. W. Higley later settled; these bodies 
were removed when Oak Hill Cemetery was laid out. At Linwood burials were 
made at an early date. One of the first cemeteries was known as Craig's cem- 
eteiy on section 7 in Franklin township about three miles west of ;\It. Vernon. 
Elias Doty was buried here in 1841 and James Doty in 1847. Jlembers of the 
Craig family and many others of the fii-st settlers were also buried here. This 
cemeterj' is not now kept up and it is not even surroimded by a fence. 

Campbell's cemeterj- was set off by Samuel Campbell, who donated an acre 
for cemetery purposes. Here Samuel Craig was buried in 1840, members of the 
Oxley family, the Hunter family, and of the John Paul family, also of the Smith, 
Berry, Snyder, Blaine, and Darr families, names familiar to all who have a 
knowledge of early Linn county history. 

The Rogers cemeterj-, laid out by old Dan Rogei-s, is on the west side of the 
river near Ivanhoe. Here, also, are buried many of the first settlers who lived on 
the west side of the river. 

A little to the north of Cedar Rapids near the Illinois Central track the relic 
hunter can find some ruins of what is known as "jMeCloud's Run." Only a 
few cnnnbling ruins remain of wliat used to be an old mill known to all the 
old settlers in the county. Through this picturesque vallej- runs a winding brook 
known as "Cold Stream," a beautiful rivulet whose clear transparent water 
plaj's sonorous music as it runs swiftlj- over the pebbles as if hastening to join 
its forces with the Cedar. The surrounding hills have in a good measure been 
shorn of their beautj^ by cutting down the timber, and now only the naked clay 
hills remain, offering a poor pasture for cattle. West of this stream on top of the 
hill overlooking the citj- can be foimd a few broken headstones and some moimds, 
but no flowers and no evergreens can be seen, not even a fence of anj- kind, for 
this little space, like all the surrounding hills, is given up to the pa.sturing of 
cattle. There in the ^-ieinity of the city are more than ninety mounds showing 
tluit Linn comity was from the earlit^st time a fit abode for man. Who these 
first settlers were we do not know, they have left us no other relics but thes€J 
mounds; their funeral pj'res and a few car\'ings indicate that thej' were Sun and 
Star worshippers, but whether thej' belonged to our Indian race has never been 
ascertained; however, the mound builder serves as a chain in man's existence. 

On the top of this hill is located the family cemeterj' of the JlcCloud family. 
Jolui MeCloud came here in 1838, and for a number of years was one of the 
prominent men of this countj-. From an examination of the small marble slabs 
thrown about in confusion, scratched bj- the hand of vandals, are to be found the 
following inscriptions: "Departed this life Jmie 6, 1846, Hester, consort of 
John Vardv, age 37 vears; in life beloved; in death lamented." "Angelia, died 
August 30," 1852." ""Grant, died March 29, 1852." "Alpheus, died December 



SOME OF THE OLD CEMETERIES 243 

28, 1861." "Eli/a Jane, died January 11. 1862." "Ester Ann, died January 
11, 1861. ^'l years." All were children of John G. and J. .McCloud. "Jolui 
McCloud, died November 10, 1863, age 61 years 7 months and 29 days." 

Mrs. John Vardy died in 1846 and was buried in this cemetery. Many of 
these places are neglected, and weeds grow in profusion and the head st/ines are 
marred and weather beaten so that the names, dates and deaths of many pioneer 
men and women have been effaced. This is the historj' of many neglected burial 
places in various parts of this county. 

Owners of land on which these small places are located think more of their 
value for corn lands than they do a-s places for a cemetery, and in many localities 
these cemeteries have been changed into pastures and com fields and not even a 
headstone can be found to tell where some dear father or mother was buried in 
the long ago. 

The Egyptians, Jews, ({reeks, and Romans all protected the burial places of 
their dead, and after a lapse of '2.(XM) years we can still go back and find .something 
as to how the dead were eared for, and the very place in which they were buried 
venerated by succeeding generations, while out here in Iowa after a lapse of only 
half a century many of these places have been neglected and ignored and now 
some descendant returning to the home of his fathei-s may l)e unable to find any 
trace of where they were buried. Certainly some protection should be offered 
by the county or the state so that these sacred places nuiy be ])rcserved and the 
memory of the old settlers duly honored for wliat they accomplished during the 
pioneer days in Linn county. 

Spring Grove cemetery, near Palo, is one of the oldest cemeteries west of the 
river. Many of the early settlers have been interred in this lot. 

A few of them are: Dyer and Iliram Usher. Charles Dickey. John Garrison, 
Peter Davis Burt, Thomas Spencer, George Mathew, J. Z. Drake, Caldwells, the 
Rawson and Tweed families. F. Klum[>b, .Mi-s. Dyer rslicr, and many others. 

Dyer I'sher a.s well as the other members of the Usher families was always 
friendly with the Indians and in return shared the good will of the various 
Indian tribes. In an early day one of the chieftains died and was buried in the 
cemeten*- lot of the whites according to the Indian customs. This brave was 
interred with bows and arrows as well as with the dead carca.ss of a horse or 
Indian i>"ny. Here the Indian brave has .slept for many moons, ready at the 
final day to join the good Indians on a fleet charger for the happy hunting 
ground in the by and by. 

In the Wilcox cemetery, near Viola, Edward M. Crow and his two wives, 
many old pioneers as well as old soldiers are laid to rest. 

Shiloh cemetery, in Rapids township, has bei^n the burial place for many years 
of the old settlers in that part of the township. 

Scotch (irovc ccmetcrj'. near Fairfax, luus also been used for many years and 
here are interred most of the old settlers who died in that part of the county. 

The Marion cemeten,', the Lisbon cemeterj-, the Center Point cemcterj', where 
is interred a Revolutionarj' soldier, as well as the Oak Hill cemeterj' in Cedar 
Rapids are a'l i>laces where a large number of the old settlers have been buried 
during the past fifty years. 

The town cemeteries seem to be kept up while the country cemeteries are 
neglected. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

Early Experiences in Stage and Express 

On way to learn of the history of a city is by studying its developments and 
the men who were its leaders in progressive enterprises and in things political. 
It is another phase of the matter, none the less important, to study the lives of the 
men who did the persistent everyday work three hundred and sixty-five days in 
the year and sometimes, it seemed, almost twenty-four hours in a day. Cedar 
Rapids was fortunate in having a large number of both classes of these pioneers. 

Among the latter cla.ss who worked steadily and everlastingly from the time 
Cedar Rapids was a straggling little village to a city of its present size and who 
aided materially in its upbuilding is W. Fred Reiner, in the early fifties a stage 
driver out of this city, and for many years after a messenger of the American 
Express company. It may be safe to assume that Mr. Reiner handled as much 
money and bullion in pioneer days as did any man in Linn covuity. His exper- 
iences were common to the stage driver and express messenger of the early day. 
How he overcame one difficulty after another, escaped highwaymen, pulled him- 
self out of muci-holes, etc., as he interestingly relates, is what was the life of the 
real pioneer of the early fifties and sixties. The events which are most vivid 
in Mr. Reiner's mind are those which occurred after he became an express mes- 
senger for the American Express company. 

We are indebted to the Republican for the following interesting account of 
the experiences of Mr. Reiner in the stage and express business : 

It is fifty-three years since Mr. Reiner, at the age of eighteen, left his home in 
Germany to risk his future in America. Coming west, he settled for one year 
at Columbus. Ohio, then pushing still farther west, he came to Iowa City in 
1854. Here for a little while he did teaming and other work, then began driving 
stage between ]\Iarengo and Iowa City. Soon he was driving for the Western 
Stage Company. In 1857, while in the employ of liis company, he drove the 
first stage from Calamus, near Dewitt, at that time the terminus of the Chicago 
and Northwestern Railroad, to this city. It was while on this route running to 
Calamus that ilr. Reiner first became acquainted with Conductor Holteu, now 
of Des Moines, and well known all over Iowa as the oldest conductor in the em- 
ploy of the Chicago and Northwestern. 

After working in this capacity for a while Mr. Reiner returned to Cedar 
county and took up farming. Soon con\ing back to Iowa City, he went to the 
stage "company's office and was immediately given a stage between that place 
and Cedar Rapids. 

One day while on his route he met at Solon the proprietor of the stage com- 
pany coming from Iowa City with a four-horse stage. The new stage drew up 
along where Mr. Reiner was, and the proprietor called, "Fred, I want you and 
your team." Wondering wliat was going to happen, Mr. Reiner immediately 
unhitched his horses, and the driver of the leadhorses on the other stage had also 
unhitched his. "Sir. Reiner's team was put on as the leadhorses, and he was told 
to get on the stage. While coming on into this city the proprietor informed him 
that he was to run the new stage from this city to Spring^-ille. at that time the 
end of the Dubuque and Southwestern railroad. 

As the railroad was pushed nearer and nearer Marion, the stage route became 
shorter and shorter, until it was finally between Cedar Rapids and the county 




HIGH SCHOOL, CENTRAL CITV 




BRIDGE OVER WAPSTE AT CENTRAL CITV 



EARLY EXPERIENCES IN STAGE AND EXPRESS 245 

seat It was while driving between this city and Marion that he began to carry 
express, and that in an unusual way. One of the express mes.Sfngers who ran 
into the county seat and whose home was at that j)lace. liad to accompany the 
express down to this city each night on tlie .stage. There being no return stage 
until morning, he was compelled to spend the night in Cedar Rapids. He would 
very often asl: Mr. Reiner to take charge of the express at Marion and bring it to 
this city. The express messenger was Dr. J. M. Ristine of this city, now one of 
the best known physicians in the state. 

One day Supt. Thomas Adams, of the American Express company, was at 
Marion, lie opened a conversation with Mr. lieiner in the course of which he 
asked him if he would be willing to tjike a position as express mes.senger on the 
western end of the .Xortinvestern. at that time nearing the city of Hoone. ^Ir. 
Reiner took the matter under advisement, ami later accepted the position. 

Going to Boone. Mr. Reiner wa.s given the first express route from that city 
through to Omaha. With the railroad stopping at Boone, and nothing more than 
a mere trail to follow, with a few stopping ])la<-es. this route on to the Nebraska 
city was everytiiing but i)leasant. Xcverthclcss Mr. Reiner took hold of the 
work, and on November 7. ISt),!. after forty-eight hours of almost continuous rid- 
ing, he carri'^d the first express ever hauled by the Amerit-au Hxpress company 
into the city of Omaha. 

Early in the morning of the la.st day a stop had been made at (,'ouncil Bluffs 
for breakfast, and when Mr. Reiner was ready to e(mtinue the regubir .stage had 
gone. The local agent hustled around and found a carriage which he turned over 
to Mr. Reiner, so that the first express which the American Express ever took 
into Omaha did not go by stage, but by carriage. 

There was nothing delicate or easy in the route assigned to the new messenger, 
lie left Boone on Tuesday afternoon. The stage, by changing horses at regular 
internals, went steadily on during the afternoon and night, and all the next day 
and night. Early Thursday morning it would jiuU into Council Bluffs, where a 
stop for l)reakfast was made. The trip was then continued to Omaha, which 
was reached during the forenoon. Leaving Omaha that same afternoon at four 
o'clock, the ret\irn trip was commenced and kept up xuitil Bo<ine was reached at 
nine o'clock Saturday morning. A.s Mr. Reiner had previously driven stage he 
was nearly always found upon the seat with the driver. Thus he was exposed 
the same as the driver was. Through all kinds of weather, the blizzards of winter 
and stifling heat of the summer, these trips were made with great«'st regularity. 
Gradually, however, the railroad was worked farther and farther westward, and 
the stage driver's route shortened ai'i-ordingly. 

During this period of his life Mr. Reiner had many trying and sometimes 
exciting experiences. Although he is modest alnuit relating them, those which he 
told a reporter illustrate what the mes.sengers of that period had to contend with. 

"I remember one time." said Mr. Reiner, "it was in the spring of the year 
and the roads were in terrible condition. From I'anora to Boone there was one 
slough after another. We were driving aloncr <>ne night. 1 was on the box with the 
driver, when we came to a wide slough. There were tracks where others had 
driven through, but of course, we could not go across in the sjime place for fear 
of cutting through. But the .slough looked all right, so we started in a new place. 
We had got into the center when suddenly the wheels cut through the sml and the 
stap' sank into the water-soaked ground clear )ip to the axles. The four horses 
began floundering aroiuid in a most dangerous manner. Both the driver and 
I jumiied from our seats down into the mud and water, and as soon as possible 
unhitched the horses. 

"There we were, stuck in the middle of the slough with nine passengers on 
the inside of the coach, one of them a woman. They, of course, had been aroused 
bv the disturbance, and now called loudly to know what they should do. There 



246 HISTORY OP LINN COUNTY 

was but one thing that could be done, and that was to get out and wade to shore. 
This they did, one of the gentlemen carrying the woman on his shoulders. They 
were told that if they would follow the road for three miles they could find lodg- 
ing for the night. A spring snow wa-s on the groimd, and the air was cold, but 
they started on their way. The driver, capturing one of the horses, jumped on it 
and rode for help. 

"I was left there alone. In the stage coach was my express containing some 
very valuable property which I did not dare to leave under any circumstances. 
There was but one thing for me to do, and that was to wade back to the stage 
coach and climb in and stay there until help should arrive. This I did. I 
wrapped myself in my buffalo robe which was the best I could do, but it was far 
from comfortable. 

"In the morning help came and we were pulled out of the mud hole. A fresh 
set of horses was hitched to the stage and we were soon at the next stop. Here 
we met all the passengers. They had had good beds to sleep in and warm break- 
fasts, so weri^ anxious to be off. I hastily swallowed a cup of coft'ee, and still in 
my wet clothes, climbed up on the box seat, and rode all that day and the next 
night without a rest. This was but one of the experiences which were familiar 
to stage drivers and express messengers of that time." 

Although during his twenty-five years of service for the American Express 
company Mr. Reiner never lost a penny which had been placed in his charge, 
it was not because he did not have his opportunities to do so. 

"There was one experience," he remarked, "that I remember well, and which 
came as near being a hold-up as I ever had. It was the same week that an addi- 
tional express messenger had been put on the route between Boone and Omaha, 
and our routes had been altered accordingly. The stage left Boone on a Jlonday 
afternoon and was in the neighborhood of Denison. It was a bright night and 
the horses were jogging along at a good gait. 

"Suddenly ahead the driver saw two men crouched by the roadside. As we 
drew near they both sprang out into the road and began firing at us rapidly. 
One of the first shots struck and killed the rear horse on the left hand side. The 
other three animals sprang forward with such force that they fairly jerked the 
harness off from the animal which had been shot. They circled to the right and 
the wheels of the coach ran over the fallen animal. The animals continued their 
circling until they completely reversed the coach, then they turned and ran down 
the road along which we had just come. It was alwaj's believed that the high- 
waymen did not know of this change, and thought the stage carried express as 
before. But the fact was I had left Boone on Monday instead of Tuesday. 

"Tlie driver, according to the story he told me afterwards, was cussed most 
roundly for not stopping the team, but he insisted that the shooting the robbers 
had done so frightened the horses that they had become immanageable. Although 
the highwaymen were far from satisfied with the explanation they made the 
best of a bad matter, and began to search the driver to see what they could find. 
He gave them his pocketbook, which, he said, contained forty dollars. That, by 
the way, is more money than I ever saw him have at one time, and considerably 
more than stage drivers usually carried. The hold-up men took the money and 
gave the pocketbook back to him, as it contained some papers he wished to save 
and which were of no value to the robbers. 

"Soon after this incident, while going over my route one cold night the driver 
stopped the team and called to me. I sat in a seat on the inside with my revolvers 
lying beside me. Getting out of the door, the driver told me there was a man 
crouched down in the road ahead of us. We were out on the prairie some miles 
from a station. I went forward, with no feeling of pleasure, to investigate. The 
man came forward also and I recognized him as a fellow who had been lying 



EARLY EXPERIENCES IN STAGE AND EXPRESS 247 

around onn of the stations for several days. I asked him what he wanted and he 
replied that he wished to get in and ride for a wiiys. Although the iiifjht was cold 
I eoiiiil not let him in for fear that he had eompaiiions farther up the road and 
was only cettinj.^ inside to pet the hiy of the land. The ex()rt'ss was luuisually 
valuable tliat night. The fellow ran along hehind tlie eoach for some time, hut 
the horses gradually outdistanced him, and that was the last we ever saw of him." 

After the completion of the railroad. Mr. Iteiner was given a position as ex- 
press messenger on one of the trains. "Many times," said the veteran express 
messenger. "I have literally had the car tioor paved with gold iuid silver, over 
which I walked in doing my work. We had carried lots of gold and silver bars 
east from Virginia City, in Nevada. In order that the weight should lie evenly 
distrihut*>d the bars were spread like paving bricks all over the car floor. The 
following description, written by a reporter from one of the Coinicil Bluffs 
papers while Mr. Reiner was yet at Boone, gives a description of the work) of 
carrying the bullion : 

"While viewing the scenes at the transfer yesterday afternoon, we boarded 
W. P. Reiner's Northwestern express car and beheld a scene that caused our liump 
of inquisitivene.<;s to jump. Mr. Reiner is a ines.';enger of the American Merchants 
Union Express company, and will have served in his present position and on his 
present route seven years in November next, lie lives in Boone. On the floor 
of his car were sixty-seven gold and silver bricks. That is, each brick was com- 
posed of gold and silver in compound. In some of them, silver predominated — 
in value. They resemble silver almost entirely in color. They are of somewhat 
irregidar sizes, though nearly every one of them weighs more than one hundred 
pounds. Some of them were much more refined than the others. The amount 
of gold and silver in each one is stamped on the face or top, in different lines, and 
the total vahie of the brick is added in a third line. The value of each metal is 
marked, even to a cent. IIow those values can be so accurately determined in a 
compound brick is beyond our knowledge. Fifty-seven of those bricks which we 
yesterday saw, were worth $101.!)o().80. The remaining eleven -were worth 
$15,077.57. They were mostly from Virginia City and are being taken to New 
York. Mr. Reiner informed us also tliat these bricks are carried only by the 
North western and Rock Island roads. On some diiys he has had as many as 
160 of them in his car. They are taken east nearly every day." 

For ten years Mr. Roiner lived in Boone, then a redivision of the road brought 
him back to this city. For the next fifteen years he continued to run out of this 
city and do active service. Thirteen years ago the terrible strain he had under- 
gone in the earlier years of service for the compjiny began t-o tell upim him and 
he broke down in health. Then, if a private company ever did a good and wise 
thing, the American Expre.ss company did it. They said they realized the value 
that Mr. Reiner had been to them when they were getting established in Iowa 
and running their route through to Omaha, and they would not forget his effi- 
cient sersices now that he was getting old. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

Linn County Libraries 

THE IOWA MASONIC LIBRARY 

BY HELEN R. DONNAN 

The Iowa Masonic Library, "unique in idea and unapproachable in scope," 
is an institution of which Cedar Rapids is proud, and to which the Masons of 
Iowa point as a satisfaetorj^ answer to those who would question the purposes of 
the fraternity. 

As early as 18-14 the late T. S. Parviu, grand secretary and librarian of the 
Grand Lodge of Iowa, A. F. & A. M., from its organization until his death in 
1901, began the collection of books which today is world famous. With rare 
discernment and infinite patience this vast wealth of treasures has been gathered 
together and placed at the disposal of all students. 

The library, for years housed at Muscatine, later in the Burtis Opera House 
at Davenport, was removed to Iowa City in the year 1867, where it remained in 
rooms rented for that purpose until 1883 when it had so far outgrown its quarters 
that a new and more permanent home was needed. At the annual session of 
1883, the Grand Lodge set aside $20,000.00 for a fireproof building, and. the 
citizens of Cedar Rapids having offered to donate a lot and $10,000.00, it was 
decided to build in that city. The site .selected was ideal, fronting on one of the 
most beautiful avenues, in the residence district, yet within a few blocks of the 
business portion of the city. The front of the building, which is of red pressed 
brick trimmed with sandstone, consists of two stories and an attic, while the rear 
part is two stories, and under all is a basement, well lighted and ventilated by a 
wide area-way. Surrounded by a well kept lawn and beautiful shade trees, it 
presents a very attractive appearance. 

So rapidly did the library grow that in 1901 the trustees were authorized 
to purchase the adjoining corner lot on which was a tine brick residence. This 
has since been used as a general reference library and reading room, known as the 
Annex. Both buildings have recently been improved and re-decorated until to- 
day one entering either one finds "a place of quiet and beauty, where sight- 
seeing is a delight, and study an absolute pleasure." On the right of the main 
entrance is the Grand blaster's room, furnished in dark and massive oak, thor- 
oughlj^ in keeping with the dignity of the fraternity. On the left, a lighter treat- 
ment in decoration and the mahogany furniture make the reception room a 
delightful apartment in which the friends gather and are made welcome. The 
fireproof doors at the end of the entrance hall open into the library proper, filled 
with book Ciises on every side, and in the center of the room are large glass cases 
containing thousands of rare and interesting curios. The upper floor of this hall 
is a gallery guarded by an iron railing and lighted by the skylight above. This. 
too, is filled to overflowing with bonks and display cases. On the walls of both 
rooms hang pictures of the long line of Grand Masters who have ruled the craft 
in Iowa from 1844 to the present time. 

The leading feature of this library is naturally the JIasonic department. 
Here in cases adorned with meaning symbols are to l>e found all the standard 




T. S. PAKVIN 
Long Grand Secretary Iowa Masons 



THE IOWA MASONIC LIBRARY 249 

works of the fraternity and those which later scholarship lujs t-ontribiited to the 
history, philosophy and cen'inonia! of Miusonry. tofrcthcr witli the prooeedinfp^ of 
all Urand Linlffi's, I'hapti-rs, Commanderies, Councils. Shrines. (.'Iiaptcrs of the 
Order of Eastern Star, and all Masonic or-ranizations of the world. This depart- 
ment also cont-iiins the constitutions, by-laws, monitors, and rituals of all Ma.sonie 
bodies, both American and foreign. Masonic i)eriodicals and magazines from all 
parts of the jrlobe are on the shelves in perhaps more complete sets tluui can be 
found in any other library. Many rare aiul costly works have been added, some 
few of which arc uniipie, no other cojiy being known to exist. 

The early history of Freemasonry shows traces of the influence of other si'cret 
societies, and it iu turn has intluenced almost every other secret organization. 
A Masonic librarj- would therefore be incomplete without the history, literature 
and ceremonies of these as.so<'iations. This semi-Masonic department includes 
all works bearing upon the secret .s(K'ieties of the Ameriean revolution, the early 
secret societies of the middle ages and France, works pertaining to the history 
of the Xestorians, Dervishes. Thugs, Druids, Rosierucians, the Guilds, etc. 

As Masonry is closely linked with art. ardiaeology. mythology-, and religion, a 
large collection of this class of material finds ])lace in the general reference 
library, now housed in the Annex. The French and German books, comprising 
some four thousand volumes, the government publications, and a large number of 
priK'M^dings have been removed to the l)aseinent. while the attic is crowded with 
duplicate proceedings, magazines, and pamphlets without number. 

Another interesting feature is the Iowa department containing works by 
Iowa authors, as well as all works pertaining to the history of the state. 

In order to make this collection of the greatest possil)le benefit to its patrons, 
it has been classified and a card catalog of the books has l)een made in accordance 
with approved library methods. 

For the casual visitor the principal attraction is the museum, which contains 
archaeological, mineralogrical. and geological spe<'imens from all parts of the 
country, llcri' the relics of ancient American races and tribes give evidence 
of prehistoric culture, while the ruder implements, weapons and pottery o£ the 
aborigines make a notable collection. One large ca.se contains only weapons of 
warfare: another is filled with Iowa birds. An unusual collection is the one of 
shoes from China. Japan, India. Burma. Siani. and several other foreign lands. 
The case of cohmial relics is especially interesting to older visitors. The book 
lover finds the case devoted to rare and beaut if ull.v bound books the supreme at- 
traction, while the small boy enjoys the stami) collection, the post card display, 
the birds, and the "freaks" of nature exhibited here. Masonic badges, medals, 
coins, old diploma-s. charters, manuscripts, aprons, and other old lodge parapher- 
nalia are artistically displayed in the various glass cases. Scattered throughout 
both buildings are many pictures, fine art pieces in bronze, bistpie. and marble, 
antique va.ses. jars, pitchers, and various pieces of modern pottery, all donated 
by friends of the librarj*. 

In the autograph letter dej)nrtment arc three hirgc double cases each having 
one hundred and forty glass covered drawers devoted exclusively to this material. 
Here may be found the signatures of noted literary men. the presidents of the 
I'nited States, governors of Iowa, and others prominently identified with the 
history of the state as well as noted men of the fraternity. 

In 19(11. ufion the death of T. S. Parvin. the ftmnder of the institution, his 
son, Newton R. Parvin, was eleeti'd Grand Seeretary and librarian. He is 
peculiarly fitted for this responsible position, having ser\'ed as deputy to his 
father for twenty-five years, and. like his father, is giving to the building up of 
this splendid library the "enthusiasm and energy- of a single-purposed life." 



250 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

N. R. Parvin being Grand Secretary as well as librarian, the headquarters of 
the Grand Lodge are in the library building, and in the three splendidly equipped 
vaults are stored many valuable papers and records. A card index giving the 
record of every member in the state has recently been completed and placed in one 
of the vaults. 

The entire expense of maintaining the librarj-^ is met by an annual tax of 
ten cents for each member in the state. All expenditures are under the super- 
vision of a board of three trustees appointed by the Grand Master for a term of 
six years. Those composing the present board are W. S. Gardner of Clinton, 
W. L. Eaton of Osage, and Crom Bowen of Des Moines. 

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF CEDAR R.APIDS 
BY JO.ANx\.A HAGEY 

The people of Cedar Rapids had felt the need of a public librarj-. In the 
seventies a subscription library was founded but it was forced to discontinue 
from lack of fimds and the books were given to the Y. M. C. A. The City Fed- 
eration of Ladies' Literary Clubs, and especially the president, Mrs. C. D. Van 
Vechten, should be given the credit for creating a sentiment that resulted in a 
vote of the people on March 2, 1896, to establish a library. 

The council appointed a library board in June. In October the first tax levy 
was made, and they began the formation and organization of the new library 
which was opened to the public January 15, 1897, in rooms in the Granby block. 

The work prospered and the patronage increased so that additional space was 
needed, and in 1900 the library was moved to the Dows Auditorium. 

Again larger quarters were demanded and it was deemed best for the city to 
own the library building. Mr. Andrew Carnegie generous]}' gave .$75,000, which 
was used for the erection of the beautiful and commodious building on the 
corner of Fifth street and Third avenue. The new building was dedicated June 
23, 1905. 

Some idea of the growth of the library can be gained from the following 
comparisons: When the library was opened there were 1,325 volumes on the 
shelves. December 31, 1909, there were 19,505 volumes; 29,730 books were cir- 
culated the first year, and 94,078 books last year; the receipts the first year were 
$4,471.52; last year thev amoimted to $11,049.14. 

Mrs. C D. Van Vechten, Mrs. Charles A. Clark. Mrs. N. M. Hubbard, Sr., 
Jliss Emma J. Fordyce, F. F. Dawley. A. T. Cooper, V. A. Jung, L. W. Andei-son, 
and Luther A. Brewer con.stituted the fii-st board of trustees. The following 
are the present board: Mrs. IMan- Ziek Andre, Mrs. Kate Terry Loomis. Miss 
Emma J. Fordyce, ]\Iiss Elizabeth Cock, B. L. Wick, L. W. Anderson, Frank 
Filip, C. M. Doan, and Sandford Kerr. Others who have served as trustees 
are: Miss Meta Aussieker. j\Irs. Ida M. Ballheim, i\Irs. Channie J. Redmond, 
H. H. Troy, Joseph Mekota, John Vosmek, J. M. Terr>-, J. T. Hamilton, W. I. 
Endicott, Jomes A. Molony, Robert Palmer, John W. Barry, and Theodore 
Schauwecker 

Miss Virginia Dodge was librarian from 1896-1899, Miss Harriet L. McCrory 
from 1899-1903, and Miss Harriet A. Wood from 1903-1910. The present librar- 
ian is Miss B. Joanna Hagey. 

COE COLLEGE LIBRARY 

Coe College at an early date owned a well selected text-book librarj'. It was 
generally conducted by one of the students. Many donations have been made, 
mostly by men connected with the Presbyterian ministry. The large library of 



THE IOWA MASONIC LIBRARY 251 

Rev. James Knox was one of the early additions made. Later the Rev. George R. 
Carroll presented his valuable colle<'ti()ii "f books to the college. Many valuable 
books have been donated from time to time i)y moml)ers of the faculty, by students, 
and persons interested in the tjrowth of the college. 

Miss Ida Dodd and Mi.ss Cornelia Shelley served as librarians for some years. 
Miss Mary Irene Amidon, by Uie assistance of several helpers, ha.s placed the 
library on a sound basis l)y a system of cataloguing which before had been 
neglected. 

COLLEGE AND PUBLIC LIBR.ARY, MOUNT VERNON 

No definite data can be given for the beginning of the library at Mount Ver- 
non, though in the catalogue of the Iowa Conference Seminary for 1855 the state- 
ment is made that "a small but good selection of books has been procured to 
which students will have access." There seems to have been a hesitancy about 
giving any number of volumes, till in the catalogue of 1864-5 we read that "the 
college library has about 600 volumes." 

From this early beginning the library very graduall.v grew in strength and 
helpfulness under the direction of various members of the college faculty. The 
professors who served as librarians were: S. N. Fellows, 1857-60, A. Collin, 
1860-70, II. II. Freer. 1870-73. S. N. Williams, 1873-91. W. C. Webster. 1891-93. 

In 1891 Aliss May L. Fairbanks was appointed a.ssistant librarian, and in 1893 
she was electtd librarian, which position she still holds. 

A gift of $50,000 was obtained from Andrew Carnegie for a library building 
for the to\ra and college. In June. 1904, the corner stone of the new building was 
laid, and :u August, 1905, the college library, consisting of 25,548 volumes, was 
moved into the new building. 

Deceml>er 1, 1905, the library board of trustees was formally organized with 
Dr. James E. Harlan as president. Prof. W. H. Norton, Col. II". II. Rood, E. B. 
WiUix. W. E. Platner. Prof. II. M. Kelly. Dr. A. Crawford, A. A. Bauman, 
J. B. Leigh. 

There has been no change in the library board. The annual income is $5,000. 

The librar)' now consists of 33.9(M) volumes and many hundred pamphlets 
that have not been numbered. The administration of the library resembles that 
of a college more than a public librar.v, and no list of borrowers is kept. 

MARION FREE PUBLIC LIBR.\RY 

Marion free public library dates from 1903. Mi.ss Adaliza Daniels first began 
her work as early as 1902, to agitate for a Carnegie library. She and Mrs. C. X. 
Owen then began to solicit funds for a building site and collected $:L775 for that 
purpose. The first board consisted of the following: Jlessrs. Alderman, Alex- 
ander. Bowman. Treat. Mrs. Dobson. Mrs. Busby. Mrs. Owen, Miss Tyler, and 
Miss Daniels. The present board c(msists of J. W. Bowman. i)resident. Dr. J. 
Morehead, vice-president. Mrs. C N. Owen, secretary, Mr. Wood. Miss Marshall, 
Mrs. B. C. Bushy. Mrs. Millen. and Mrs. Parkhiirst. 

The income of the library- has varied from $1,100 to $1,350. There are 800 
card holders and more than 3,550 volumes in the librarj-. The librarians have 
been Miss Mary Parkhurst and Miss Mattel Alexander. 

THE BOHEMIAN RF„\DING SOCIETY 

The Bohemian Reading Society was organized November 22, 1868, at Cedar 
Rapids, and some of the charter members who are still living are: Anthony 
Soukup, Frank Soukup, John Pichner, and John Safranek. 



252 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Many of tlu- i)ioneer settlers contributed from time to tiint' largely of their 
means for the purchase of Bohemian books and tried to inculcate in their children 
a desire for the reading of books printed in their own tongue, ilany foreign 
newspapers and magazines were also taken in order to keep up with the times 
and to creat.^ in the minds of the young a love of the land of their fathers. 

The average number of books loaned has been about 3,000 volumes a year. 
The library being open to the members at stated times, much reading is done in 
the library building, where a librarian is in charge. The number of bound books 
for circulation has been from 2.000 to 2,500 volumes. The expense of running 
the library outside of room rent, heat, etc., has been from $200 to $300. ;\Iany 
donations of books and magazines are constantly being made. 

A few of the librarians have been the following named persons : Mrs. Kabasa, 
Neibert and Stolba, Frank Kurka. The present librarian has served continu- 
ously for the past sixteen years. 




WEST ROWLEY STREET, WALKER 




MAIN STREET, PRAIRIEBURG 



CHAPTER XXIX 

Jf'ages and Prices in tlw County from 184b to iS^d 

During the decade from 1846 to 1856 land was very flicap in I>iini county, 
and everj'thing else was in projiortion. Wages were low, and wliat the farmer 
raised on his pn-niises he could find no market for, and, eonsi-quently, outride 
of wheat it was pretty much wortidess. The panic of 1857 was a severe one in 
the county, and many of the hankers and imsincss people met with severe reverses 
from which some never recovered. \o one had any foreboding of the financial 
storm and all were caught short to such an extent tluit they lost lu'arly every- 
thing, even their homes which had heen nu)rtgaged. Manj- a business man with 
good credit, pos.se.ssed of considerable means, became swamped in the crash. It 
mattered not what a man had in property, if it was not in gold it liad no price, 
and there was no market for anything e.\cept on a cash basis. 

FVom X. B. Brown's account book we glean the following as to prices for 
eatables in Cedar Rapids in 1846: Beef, 2Vjc per pound, flour. 2c per pound 
(li/l'C in 1847), beans. 7.5e per bushel, veal. 8c per pound, coffee, 14c per pound, 
sugar, 161 oc per pound, tea. .$1.25 per pound, wheat 37' jc per bushel, com meal, 
25c per bushel, buckwheat tlour. 1 '/4c per pound. This interesting book is in the 
possession of Emery Brown, one of the sons. 

During the decade mentioned a horse sold at from fifty to sixty dollars, and 
a yoke of o.\en could be had for the ]>rice of one good horse. As many of the 
pioneer farmers had not the means to p)i rcha.se a t^^-am of horses, they did the 
next be.st thing and invested in a yoke of oxen and thus maniiged to get along 
and weather the storm. A g(M)d wagon with sj)ring seat cost from one hundred to 
one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and a log chain from two dollars and a half 
to five dollars. Ordinary stirring plows sold at from ten to fift<?en dollars. 
Mowers and reapers were not common in those days, the .scythe and the cradle 
being the tools with which the young boy earned some of his first spending money. 
It was surprising how much hay and grain a good farm hand could cut in a sea.son 
in this way 

The people dealt in log houses in those days like we do in second hand furni- 
ture today. These houses were bought and sold at from fifty to seventy-five 
dollars each and moved at leisure in the winter time from one part of the to«Ti- 
ship to another; at times a log house was moved fnun ten to fifteen miles and 
ever.vime {'hipixHi in and hel])ed to move. A ,jug of whiskey, some hot coffee, and 
a gfMxl dinner wi'rc all they exjtccted in the way of renuuieration for their labor. 
The young folks at times insisted on a free for all dance and a free fiddler for 
the a.ssisfance they had rendered in moving and fixing up the house. If the 
young married couple who were to occupy the house did not dance or believe in 
dancing, a party or two were given, ending tijt with a mi<Inight supper. 

While the prices of govenunent land was one dollar and twenty-five cents 
an acn*. the spivulator land gi'uerally sold at from five to ten dollars and as high 
as twelve di>IIars and fifty cents an acre. Wages were very low. from fifty to 
seventy-five cents a day being the average price paid a good farm hand. In town 
a person generally received from seventy-five cents to a dollar a day and then 
boarded himself. 

Oat« sold at fifteen cents a bushel, corn at t«'n cents, wheat at from forty-five 
to sixty cents. Hogs sold at one dollar and fifty lents a hundred. I'otatoes were 



254 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

considered high at ten cents a bushel, while quail sold at thirty cents a dozen. 
Butter brought from five to six cents a poimd, and eggs six to eight cents a 
dozen. 

While prices for farm products were quite low the prices paid for the neces- 
saries of life were high on account of lack of transportation facilities. Coffee 
sold at ten cents a pound, sugar at from eleven to twelve cents, tea retailed at 
eighty-five cents. Calico sold at forty cents a yard — and a poor quality at 
that. Salt in the early days sold at ten dollars a barrel, the price coming down in 
Cedar Rapids to five dollars when W. B. Mack brought his first cargo of salt by 
steamer from Ohio to Cedar Rapids. 

Nearly all worked on shares, land was rented on shares, grist mills operated 
on shares, as well as saw mills. ^lasons and carpenters had to take their wages 
out frequently in form of property, and, while they were hard up and needed the 
money, this property in time made many of them wealthy men by their retaining 
what had been turned over to them in the form of wages. Old Thomas JIcGregor 
relates how he worked for a contractor by the name of Robinson and was offered 
lots where the mills of the Quaker Oats Company now sfand at ten doUai-s a lot 
to apply on his wages, and when the writer inquired why he did not take these 
lots he replied : "Jly wages were seventy-five cents a day, on which I had to keep 
a wife and children, and they were more to me than comer lots." Old James 
Cleghorn worked for the Greene Bros, in the saw mill and was offered corner 
lots, and finally obtained in trade a forty acre tract of land in Scotch Grove for 
his summer's work. Old Elias Skinner, the well known ^lethodist preacher, in 
the early fifties traded a team, harness and wagon for a forty acre tract on what 
is now the location of the town of Norway, and at the time thought that the man 
who got the team had the best of the bargain, as there was no market for land 
and no income from it. while with a team of horses a man could make something 
and always could trade it for something else if he wanted to. ^Money was a scarce 
article in those days, while labor was cheap and the days were long. It was 
generally work from sun up to sun down and sometimes until way after dark, 
and no one was heard to complain, because if a person did complain there were 
always plenty of others willing to take the place of the man who wanted to quit. 

There were not many varieties of food in the good old days, but the people 
were healthy, they worked hard and everything tasted good. The ordinary 
dishes were Indian corn, com bread, hominy, corn dodgers, bacon, venison, and 
prairie chickens. The cooking was done by an open fireplace, stoves in those days 
being few. Rye coffee was used frequently instead of the ordinary coffee and 
tasted good after a long day's hard labor in the timber. JIany a thrifty housewife 
worked for weeks to dry com in the fall of the year, as well as to dry apples; 
hominy was also made at home. All these delicacies — so-called — tasted good 
during the winter months and no one was known to be afflicted with ptomaine 
poisoning. 

Before the days of grist mills coffee mills were used for the grinding of com 
and wheat. In some instances a few of the earlj' settlers used the Indian stones, 
turned by hand; later horse mills were erected, w-hich the early settlers thought 
were great inventions. These mills consisted merely of an enclosure of logs 
with a large wheel in the middle around which a leather belt was placed, which was 
also attached to a smaller wheel which turned the mill stones and ground the 
corn. The pioneers would come several miles to such a mill and sometimes had 
to wait a day or more in order to get their grist ground. They would help run 
the mill, would sleep in the wagon at night and live on parched com on the trip ; 
if a cup of coffee could be obtained at the stopping place the settler would be 
more than gratified. 

Wliile the settlers raised almost all their provisions, they also made most 
of what they had to wear. In a very cheap sort of a way they tanned their own 



WAGES AND PRICES IN COUNTY FROM 1846 TO 185G 255 

leather and made their own shoes; in short, relied on their own ingenuity for 
nearly all the comforts of life. 

Tlie women folks were as hand}' as the men, if not more so, for they were all 
spinsters, dressmakers and tailors; they made the blue hunting; shirts with fringes, 
adonied the huekskin belt whieh was worn around the waist, and also cut out 
the tiplit fitting cotton blouses worn by the boys, and e%'en made moccasins and 
a coarse kind of brogan shoes. They were furriers as well, for they made some 
excellent fitting wolf skin caps for the men and some neat looking gingham bon- 
nets, well starched, for themselves. While tiic shoes were at times heavy and ill 
fitting, they were only worn on Sundays and during the winter, for as soon as 
spring came nearly everyone went barefoot, about the house at least, for the 
sake of economy as well as for comfort. 

During these pioniMjr years in the forties and fifties our ancestors did not have 
an ea.sy time of it by any means. They endured the hardshijjs of pioneer life 
and were subject to fevers, as well as homesickness, and frequently during the 
winter montlis tliey were exposetl to the severity of the early Iowa winters when 
the log hou.ses were both small and uncomfortable, but they were men and women 
of iron nerve, full of push and energj- and perseverance. They had taken up a 
tedious battle for existence out on the barren prairies of Iowa, far away from home 
and kindred, and. at times, surrounded by wild frontiersmen, freebooters and 
ruftians who were making a last stand in these parts of Iowa until the opening 
up of the vast barren tracts west of the Missouri river. It was not until after 
the Civil war that the people of Linn county became, so to speak, eomfortiibly well 
fixed and had some of the comforts which they had so long looked for during the 
early years 



CHAPTER XXX 

Some of the First Things in Cedar Rapids and Linn County • 

The first log cabin was erected on the site of what became Cedar Kapids, by 
Osgood Shepherd or Wilbert Stone in 1838. The first frame house was erected 
by John Vardy in 1842, and the first brick building was erected by Porter W. 
Earle at the corner of First avenue and Second street in 1844. 

F. J. Upton, of the Star Wagon Company, received a carload of freight on 
the first freight train that ever came to Cedar Rapids ; this was in 1859. W. B. 
Mack received the first cargo of salt on the steamboat "Cedar Rapids" in 1855, 
bringing down the price of .salt from $10.00 to $5.00 a barrel. 

The first steamboat company, incorporated for $20,000.00, was organized in 
1855, some of the incorporators being Alex. Ely, Dr. S. D. Carpenter, the Greenes, 
and other business men of Cedar Rapids. 

The first grist mill was built by N. B. Brown in 1843. Isaac Cook was the 
first lawyer locating in Cedar Rapids; John Shearer was the first justice of the 
peace, and James Lewis was the first constable. The first general store was opened 
by George and Joseph Greene in 1842. Judge George Greene taught one of the 
first schools near Ivanhoe in 1839 and 1840. Alexander Ely, George Greene, 
and N. B. Brown, with others, erected the first school house in 1847 in Cedar 
Rapids, later selling it to the school district. 

Joseph Greene was the first postmaster in Cedar Rapids and carried the mail 
in his plug hat and distributed the same as he happened to meet the people to 
whom the letters were adre.ssed. 

Dr. S. H. Tryon was the first physician in Linn county. Dr. E. L. ^Mansfield 
was one of the first physicians locating in Cedar Rapids, in 1847. H. W. Gray 
was the first sheriff of Linn county, being appointed by Governor Lucas in 1838. 
The first county fair was held in October, 1855. The first hotel was built in 
1847, called the Union House, James Dyer being landlord; this building was 
destroyed by fire in 1865. 

In 1855 W. D. "Watrous, W. W. Smith, and J. J. Snouffer built the st«amer 
"Blackhawk" for the purpose of navigating the Cedar river. It ran between 
Cedar Rapids and Waterloo for two years. It was later purchased by the gov- 
ernment and used for a supply boat on the lower Mississippi. In the '40s and 
'50s Mississippi steamboats made regular trips to Cedar Rapids. The first rail- 
road reached Cedar Rapids in 1859 ; it is now known as the Chicago & North- 
western. 

The first fire company was organized in Cedar Rapids in 1869. In 1871 the 
Cedar Rapids Gas Light Company was organized. The first mayor of Cedar 
Rapids was Martin L. Barber. 

The first steam mill in the county was built by J. P. Glass in 1845. The first 
hand raking reaper brought into Linn county was by William Ure. of Fairfax 
towTiship, who hauled it from Chicago by oxen in the summer of 1847. 

The first newspaper in Cedar Rapids was the Progressive Era. published in 
1851 by D. 0. Finch; the first newspaper in JIarion was the Prairie Star, pub- 
lished "by A. Iloyt in 1852 ; the first daily newspaper published in Linn coiuity 
was called the Morning Observer, the first number being issued on September 1, 
1870, and edited bv Thomas G. Newman and Z. Enos. 




K--^ 






f'JP'flfc 



MAIN STREET, SPRINGVILLE 




QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, WHITTIER 




WHITTIER 



FIRST THINGS IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND LINN COUNTY 257 

N. B. Rrowu erected the first flour mill in 1844; the first woolen mill was 
erected in 1848. The first judge of probate in the county was Israel Mitchell, 
appoiuted in 1S3S. lie was also one of the justices. 

Tlie first l)rid!;e erected across the Cedar river in CecLir Rapids was in 1856 
at wliat is now Sevontli avenue. The oldest settler now living in the county is 
Robert Ellis, who arrived in 1838. 

The first marriage in Linn county was that of Preston Scott and Miss Betsey 
Martin. whi"h occurred in July, 1839. 

The first white male born in Linn county was George Cone, who first saw light 
at Marion. April 12, 1839. 

The fii-s.t death in the coiuity was that of Mr. Williams, who died January 15, 
1839. He was buried in the Campbell cemetery near Bertram. The inscription 
on his tombstone is yet visible. 

The first mill was erected by John S. Oxley in 1842-43 on Big creek. It was 
later purchased by Jacob Mann. 

The first citizen to become naturalized was Peter Garreu who, during the 
October term of court, 1840, as a native of Scotland, renounced all allegiance to 
till' queen of Great Britain. 

James E. Bromwell, who came to Linn county in 1839, will always be remem- 
bered by the residents of Marion. He helped lay out the county seat. He made 
the first coffin for the first interment in its cemetery, assisted in the erection of the 
first residence in the town, as well as in the erection of the first store buildings, 
besides taking time enough to procure the second marriage license issued in the 
county for his marriage to Catherine Gra\-, on August 20, 1841. 

Elizabeth Bennett, a native of Syracuse, New York, who had been reared in 
Canada and married to Edward Crow, November 14, 1830, is supposed to have 
been the first school teacher in the county. She died in Buffalo township Feb- 
ruarj- .'>, 1844. 

The first white child bom within the confines of Linn county was Maria Os- 
born, daushter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Osborn, and was born in September, 1838. 
This statement has often been disputed and cannot be proved with certainty. 

THE FIRST GRIST MILL 

There has been more or less controversy as to the name of the man who erected 
the first grist mill in Linn county. Marshall Oxley insists that the first mill of 
this kind was built by John S. Oxley in 1842-43. It was located in the northwest 
comer of Linn township on Big creek. The material used was grown in the 
immediate vicinity. The dimension lumber was hewn out of the forest and the 
roofing was mide of clapboard, then the primitive umterial used by the pioneers 
in covering their buildings. The machinery was purchased in Davenport and 
transported by wagon across the prairies. Before the erection of this mill the 
early settlers were compelled to take their grists to what was known as the Cat- 
fi.sh mill near Oubuiiue. Fre(|uently it required several days to go to the mill 
and to return home with the Hour. Sometimes the good housewives ran short of 
flour while the meal was being groiuid. In such ea.ses they would grind a little 
com in the eotTt^e mills, mix it with salt and water, cook it, and thank Providence 
that they lived in a land flowing with hoe cake, milk and honey. 

After the mill bad been in successful operation some time two well dressed 
gentlemen called nt the home of the owner and asked to be given entertainment 
for the nicht. Their request was cheerfully complied with. Next morning 
they strolled down to the mill and looke<l it over. After they had been hospit^ibly 
entertained and were about to depart they represented that one was a patentee 
and the other a lawyer and that the owner was using an infringement on their 
patent. They told him that if he did not pay them fort>- dollars they would 



258 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

prosecute him to the full extent of the law. He paid them the sum asked t)tit 
remarked afterwards that he guessed he should have given them a charge of shot. 
The mill was operated in successful manner by the miller, Jacob Mann, imtil 
August 15, 1848, when he purchased the property for $500. He continued to 
operate it until it was swept away by the flood of 1851, ^laun at this time losing 
his life in the flood. 

A FEW OF THE EARLY ENTRIES TO LAND 

A number of people resided in the county and were, so to speak, "squatters" 
before the I'lnd was opened for settlement and entry could be made. A few 
of the following names and locations will give the reader an idea of some of the 
old settlers who came here, some of whom resided on their respective claims before 
entry could be made. 

Peter Kepler entered land in section 1-82-5 June 15, 1842; A. il. McCoy, 
James Huntington, Edward Isham, Horatio Sanford entered land in section 
2-82-5 from ]\lay 17, 1844, to November 3, 1845. 

Mary Ann Doty entered part of section 4-82-5 November 29, 1844; Abner 
Doty entered land March 11, 1845, in section 3-82-5; "William Abbe entered land 
in section 5-82-5 in 1844; Henrj' Kepler entered land in the same section two 
years previously. Jesse H. Holman entered a forty acre tract in section 6 in the 
same township and range October 12, 1842. During the year 1845 Horatio San- 
ford, William Abbe and William Johnson entered considerable land in the same 
locality; also Allison I. Willits and Fred Kinley as early as 1842. James, Joe 
and Robert Boyd entered considerable land from February, 1843 to 1844 in sec- 
tion 8, while entries were made in section 10 from 1842 to 1844 by John I. Gibson, 
Oliver Day, Oakley Parker, and Robert Stinson. 

During the .same period the following entries were made in section 11, to-wit -. 
by Simeon Archer, Oliver Da}% John I. Gibson, Nathan Peddycord, and James 
Kelsey. 

In section 13 the following entries were made from February, 1843, to 1845, 
viz : by Saul Elliott, Gabe Archer, James Bartley, and G. B. Bowman. 

In section 14 entries were made from 1843 to 1844 as follows: by James 
Kelsey, Leonard Platner, John Donahoo, Joe Smith, Ackley Parker, and Reuben 
Ash. 

In section 15 entries were made from February 22, 1843, to September 18, 
1844, by Dan Halin and James Muckalls ; and in section 17 by John Stewart and 
John McLaughlin. 

In section 18 during the same period entries were made by Nate P. Wilcox, 
Meron C. Barnes, and A. J. MeKean; George Greene entered a tract in section 
29 February 21, 1843. Nearly all of the above described sections seem to have 
been picked up between the years 1842 and 1844. 

A few names appear in various localities as having entered lands in smaller or 
larger tracts, viz: Hugh Downey, J. G. Berryhill, John J. Gibson, H. W. San- 
ford, William Abbe, A. J. Willits, and Morgan Reno; a number of those men 
were not residents of the county at any time as far as is known, with the excep- 
tion of William Abbe. 

In Linn Grove township 83. range 5, the following entries were made : 

In sections 1 and 2 by Cyrell M. Webster, Morgan Reno, and WiUiam Smythe 
during the years 1852 and 1853. 

In sections 4 and 5 Benjamin Simons. David E. Fussel, Joe S. Butler, and 
John S. Oxley made entries from 1843 to 1844. In sections 6, 7 and 8 the fol- 
lowing entries were made during the years 1842 and 1843 : John ]\Iilner, Le Grand 
Byington. Socrates H. Tryon, Jesse Tryon, Dennis Trj-on, Alexander Paul. Jacob 
Jlann, John Safely, Jane Safely, Jacob Safely, and Adam Safely. 



FIRST THINGS IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND LINN COUNTY 259 

In section 9 and 11 entries were made during 1844 and 1845 by Ann Whitlateh, 
Alonzo ]i. Clark, Mor^'an Reno, Matt Lynch, Dan I. Finch, and Seward Kyles. 

In sections 15, 17, 121 and 22 the following entries were made during the years 
1S42 and 1844: James S. Vamer, Levi Lewis, S. A. Yeisiey, John, Thomas and 
Will Goudy. 

In sections 25 to 29 the following entries were made: by John and Andrew 
Safely, Sam Ellison, John Goudy, George Krow, and Lewis Fink during the 
years 184^ to 1844. Dan Peet made entry U) certain tract of land in section 14 
at the same time. 

In section 1-85-5 and 6 the following entries were made from 1852 to 1856 : by 
Stephen Conover, Barnett Cole, Nancy H. Hunt, and others. Richard Barber 
made the first entrj' in section 4 in 1848, while in section 6 Philip ColTits made 
entry in June, 1847, and John Smith in Noveml)er, 1849. 

In section 7 Cliiindler, Ebenewr and Moses C. Jordan entered land from 
184G to 1848. Richard Barber makes an entry in section 9 in 1848. In section 
14 Edward Crew, or Crow, enters land in November, 1840 to January, 1845. 
In section 15 Jacob Jlann enters land in May, 1845, followed by another entrj- 
made by George Paddington in February, 1846. 

In section 23 Absalom Cain makes an entry Febniarj-, 1846, and in section 25 
George C. Perkins and Morton Claypool enters land in 1845. John Peet enters 
land in section 36 in 1844, and Joseph and Ormus Clark enters land in section 
3 in 1844 and 1845. 

In section 44. range 5, some of the early entries are by John Peet, Harvey 
Stone, and Nelson Crow from 1842 to 1845. Sam Kelly enters eighty acres in 
section 11 in 1840, and about the same time John Gillilan enters land in section 
12. John Crow enters one hundred and sixty acres in 1840 in section 13. 

Charles Pinkney makes an entry in section 28 in 1840; also another entry in 
section 29 the same date. In section 32 on August 5, 1840, Nathan Brown, G. 11. 
Robinson, Thomas Sammis, and William Styles make entries. The first entrj 
made in section 33 was made by Benjamin Simons and Abel M. Butler. Charles 
E. Haskins makes several entries from 1843 to 1848 in section 12-82-5, as well as 
in sections 1 and 2, Peter Kepler also making entries in January, 1842. 

William Abbe made several entries of land in sections 5 and 6 from 1842 to 
1843, while Thomas Craig made entries in sections 6 and 7 from 1843 to 1846. as 
well a-s Daniel Ilahn in section 15. 

Israel Mitchell and James Hunter enter land in sections 4 and 5 in 1844, and 
Herman, or Ilarman. Boye made several entries in 1854 in .sections 24 and 28. In 
sections 1 and 2-82-2 entries are found ius of 1843 and 1844 made by Thomas 
Craig. Elizabeth D. Wain, Robert Smythe, and Samuel Littrell. In sections 
7, 8 and 9 Thomas Crabtree, Abe Stotts. and James Hunter make entries from 
1844 to 184P. 

Daniel, William. Henry and Elias Rogers nmke numerous entries in section 
14 in 1849: William Davcy, Mary S. Ij«»gare. Edgar G. Stoney. J. G. Berryhill. 
and Thonia.s J. Cox entered this land from 1849 to 1850 in sections 2 and 5-82-7. 
In section 12-83-7 entries were made in 1843 by S. II. Tryon. J. II. BLackman. 
M. Mitchell, and E. T. Lewi.s. In sections 14 and 15 J. Stambaugh. N. and D. 
Chapman, Ambrose Harlan. H. W^eare. Isaac Carroll, George Greene made entries 
from March 4. 184:}.. to June, 1844. 

John G. McCloud makes an enfr>' in section IG in December, 1846. In section 
17 Robert Ellis entered land July 19, and August 8, 1S43. and John Lichtebarger 
in July of the same year. In section 18 the heirs of Dan Potter convey, and 
Thomas Gainer and Lsaac Lichtebarger about the same time. 

In section 21-83-7 Addison Daniels and N. B. Brown entered land March 31. 
1843. and George Greene makes entry of land July 13. 1847 and October 31, 
1848. From 1843 to 1847 entries were made in section 22 bv A. Daniels, N. B. 



260 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

Brown, John G. Cole, Levi Lewis, Joshua Phillips, and Ambrose Harlan. In sec- 
tion 27 Otho S. Boiling, Levi Lewis, and Jason C. Bartholomew made entries 
from 1843 to 1845. In section 28 entries were made by David W. King, Tom 
Gainer, and J. M. May from March, 1843, to 1859. 

The entries are made earlier in the eastern and southeastern part of the county, 
and later on the west side of the river and toward the west and northwest; the 
most entries were made from 1852 to 1859, when there seems to have been a 
wholesale tide of emi^ation. 

ORGANIZATION OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE COUNTY 

Copy of a paper given the Linn County Historical Society by Miss Mary 
Durham, daughter of Hon. Samuel W. Durham. 

Marion, April 27, 1843 

Committee of organization met at Marion, Linn county, Iowa. 

Resolved, that a sufficient number of gentlemen in each township be appointed 
to act as a committee of organization. 

Franklin Township — C. C. Haskins, S. Elliott, Robt. Smyth, A. M. Artz, 
Jno. Wolfe, Jas. Stewart, Benj. De Witt, Henr>' Kepler. 

Linn To-.vnship — William T. Gilbert, Sam'l C. Stewart, Ira Sammons, And. 
Safely, Jno. Scott. 

Brown Township — Geo. Perkins, Jas. V. Hill, Isaac Butler, Horace N. 
Brown, Sam'l Kelly. 

Washington Township — Bart Magonigle, Sam'l Lockhart, Ben D. Springer, 
Wm. B. Davis, Thos. Lockhart, Sr., A. Moats, Wm. Cress, Wm. B. Harrison. 

Lafayette — Oilman Clark, Chas. Cantonwine, Daniel Richards, Sam'l 
Brazier, Jacob Cress. 

Putnam — Jno. Bamet, Jno. Hile, Alex Cox. 

Marion — M. Strong, Geo. Greene, Iram Wilson, Prior Scott, Perry Oxley, 
S. H. Tryon, Jcel Leverich, John Himter, Thos. Railsback, S. W. Durham. 

Rapids — N. B. Brown, P. W. Earle, Baker, Gainor, Justus Wells, John G. 
McLoud. 

Resolved, that each township send one delegate to Linn convention and those 
having 100 votes, 2, and 1 for every additional 50. 

Resolved, that with order to an organization of the democratic party in Linn 
County the committee in each township be requested to give due notice to the 
democratic citizens of their respective townships by written advertisement or 
otherwise, to meet at some convenient place in their said townships on the first 
Saturday of June next at 2 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of choosing delegates to 
attend the T-arritorial Convention at Iowa City on the 4th Monday in June, and 
also to appoint delegates to a District Convention, to be held at William L. Gil- 
bert's at such time as may hereafter be agreed upon by the corresponding com- 
mittees in the counties composing the 8th electoral district, to nominate candidates 
for Representatives to the Legislature to be supported by the democratic party at 
the annual election in October next. 

Resolved, that a committee of three be appointed. 

L. M. Strong, Prest. 
Sam't- W. DuBHAii, Sec. 




'^flifill^' 




MAIN STREET, CENTRAL CITY, P^ROM THE SOUTH 




GENERAL STORE AT COVINGTON 



CHAPTER XXXI 

Society in the Early Days 

The early settlers in Linn county were iutelligeut and cultured. They did 
not come to the county Vieeause eommiuiities in the east were glad to he rid of 
them. It was for far dilVerent reasons our pioneer men and women made their 
homes here. They looked upon this as a goodly land, one filled with opportunity, 
and they entered in and occupied it. 

Mrs. R. C. Rock, now in her 83d year, ha.s vivid recollections of beginnings 
in Linn county. She came overland from Dubuque in 18-50, ami ever since 
has called Cedar Rapids her home. She says in her first years here the people 
took the best magazines of the day, passing them around so that all might read 
them. In 1*^52 there was organized a literary circle of ladies and gentlemen. 
This circle met once a week at the homes of the members. Original papers were 
read at these meetings, the subjects being assigned in advance. Occasionally 
distinguished lecturers from abroad were obtained. On one occasion Oliver 
Wendell Holmes was here, giving an entertaining talk to a large audience on 
the "Great Pyramids." Judge Williams, of Muscatine, one of the original 
members of the supreme court of the state, was also a lecturer here. P^rom time 
to time Dr. J. F. Ely, Judge Orcene, and other local men read papers or made 
addresses, "and tliej' were always of a high order," saj's Mrs. Rock. 

Occasionally there were formal parties, as in these days. There was a great- 
er amount of entertaining a half century or more ago here than there is now. 
There were no special distinctions of ela.ss, all the citizens were welcomed. Some 
of the most hospitable homes were those of the southern colony, mentioned in 
another chapter in this book. Dr. and Mrs. Ely entertained a great deal in 
their home located where now stands the old Post Office building. Jlr. and 
Mrs. S. C. Bever were always hospitable, and the Greenes did their share. Mrs. 
Rock says nothing as to her own entertaining in these days, but her home was 
recognized as one of most cordial hospitality, refinement and culture. Col. W. 
n. Merritt, Gabriel Carpenter, William Greene, Lawson Daniels and their 
wives were also plea.sant and hospitable entertainers. 

Mrs. George C. Ilaman, whose husband by the way is the oldest business 
man in this city — oldest in point of continuous service — wrote in 1006 quit(i 
interestingly for the Republican her recollections of society in Cedar Rapids in 
the early days. We take the liberty of reproducing the same here. It is a 
vivid picture of social doings a half century and more ago. 

Society in the early days had one pleasant feature that we do not have at the 
present time. There was only one social circle and there was not so much 
society to the square inch as there is now. It was before the days of parties 
with the men left out and before the days of clubs and cliques. A large social 
funftion meant all the social people in town, and was thoroughly enjoyed by 
all. and nothing but sickness or death kept any away. The first social affair 
I attended was in '57. Even then Cedar Rapids enjoyed a social reputation 
equal to any town in the state and it soon took the lead with such families for 
social leaders as those of Judsre Greene. Dr. J. F. Ely. S. C. Bever, Gabriel 
Carpenter Colonel Merritt. William Greene. T.,iws.in Daniels and a few others. 



262 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

who believed that money-getting should not be the only aim in life, and believed 
in a high standard of social and literarj' enjoyment as well. 

The social, literary and religious fouzidation laid by these far-seeing men and 
women is what gave Cedar Rapids the prestige it enjoys among the sister cities 
of the state. Of course in the forties and fifties most of the entertainments were 
simple, but there were red letter days. The lii"st large social affair I attended 
was a wedding, and the first wedding I ever attended. It was the marriage of 
Miss Carpenter, daughter of Gabriel Carpenter, to Mr. George Weare, brother 
of the late John Weare and Mr. Charles Weare. The bride was lovely. The 
groom was a young business man of Sioux City, where thej' have lived ever 
since. The wedding banquet was a feast of all the good things that a good 
housewife could prepare, and Mrs. Carpenter was famous for her culinary 
achievements. Her turkey dinners brought joy to many friends. She is now 
in her eighties, and lives a retired life. 

While writing the accoimt of this wedding I received a paper giving the 
account of the wedding of a granddaughter of this bride and groom. 

The second social affair that stands out prominently in my memory is a 
large party given by Dr. and Jlrs. Ely. The social fimctions given at this 
hospitable home were always delightful. The genial personality of the host and 
hostess pervaded everj' corner of the home, and when one entered its portals one 
knew that Dr. and Mrs. Ely would give a cordial welcome. It was a home where 
all of the new-comers were alwaj-s entertained, the latch-string always being out. 
Mrs. Ely was a very philanthropic woman, was the leader of all of the charitable 
works for many years. Under her leadership many of the philanthropic women 
of today received their early training. Her noble works gave them their incen- 
tive. There were not so many spacious homes as now, but those who had them 
dispensed hospitality most generously and in a way not surpassed in these days. 

The home of S. C. Bever, for many years the largest, stood where the Rock 
Island oiBcts now stand. This home was where the bishops and other clergy 
of the Episcopal church were always entertained while in town. This home, 
with its large family of young people that drew like spirits, was the source of 
many gaieties. Mr. and j\Irs. Bever 's hospitality many times won financial 
success for Cedar Rapids. They entertained strangers who came to spy out the 
land. One occasion of this kind was in '55, when Judge Greene, Dr. Ely, John 
"Weare, Lowell Daniels, W. W. Walker, S. D. Carpenter and S. C. Bever all 
went to Chicago to attend a national republican convention. All being business 
men, ever ready to build up Cedar Rapids, at this convention they made it their 
business to meet men from New York and Boston and to talk up the advantages 
of Iowa and what a railroad could do, until jMr. Ames of Boston, Crocker, Ber- 
tram and others came back with the Cedar Rapids delegation, and were taken 
in conveyance through central Iowa. While the men were working the eastern 
capitalists for a railroad the women all got busy and prepared for a reception 
and dance at the home of S. C. Bever. Some baked cakes, others prepared meats, 
others the bread and others the ice cream. The whole town was invited, so when 
the eastern men returned, they were won completely over and the project of the 
first railroad into Cedar Rapids was laid then and there. 

Homes were often called upon to open their doors to strangers in town, who 
often were induced by the warm hospitality and good fellowship to invest their 
money and join hands and build up Cedar Rapids. When a large function was 
given all the friends assisted. Dishes and table linen and services were offered. 
We could not lure a caterer to come and prepare refreshments and serve a com- 
panj'. Our friends were the helpers. 

The home of William Greene was also one with open doors. It stood on the 
comer of Third street and B avenue. It was not a large house, but a very hos- 
pitable one. liater William Greene built a beautiful house in the block where 



SOCIETY IN THE EARLY DAYS 263 

A. C. Taylor, Dr. Ruml and Dr. Ket'ley now live. The grounds covered the 
whole block and were laid out with land.seape etTect. It was a beautiful place, 
and many fine entertainments were given there. 

The Higley brothers, Harvey, Wellington, Mort and Henry, in the early days, 
lived in small homes, but that did not deter them from keeping up their end of 
social life. Lucy and Jennie Iligley were fine cooks and eharining hostesses. 
Mort and Vrelliugton were jolly good fellows and every one knew they were sure 
of a plea.sant time when invited to their homes, no matter whether it was to a 
church social, or a big "standup" party as they were called in those- days. 

S. L. Dows' first home was like those of the rest of the pioneers, small, but 
hearts were large and no one extended a more cordial welcome to their friends 
than Mr. and Mrs. Dows. After they built their new home on First avenue, 
many brilliant affairs were given by them. 

The home of George C. Hainan, on the corner of A avenue and Fifth street, 
is an old land nuirk. Mr. and Mrs. Haman have lived there for over forty years. 
Their children were born and brought up there, and like many pioneer homes, 
it has been the scene of many festivities and good times. 

The home of the late John "Weare. with its large family of young people, will 
always be remembered by the old settlers. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Belt, now owned by Mrs. George W. Bever, was 
the scene of many enjoyable house parties. Friends from eastern cities and 
prominent people throughout Iowa were entertained there. Mrs. Belt loved to 
entertain the clergj'. 

The entertainments given by Judge and ilrs. Greene were the crowning 
social events of early days. The home and estate were outside of town, but 
that was no obstacle to their entertaining. Judge Greene was ready for every 
emergency and the home was characteristic of the man. He w;us broadminded, 
warm hearted, foresighted. generous and philanthropic, and his home was con- 
ducted on these plans. His first house on his beautiful estate, Jlound Farm, 
was not large, but he always found a way to cnterf^iin his friends and visitors 
to Cedar Rapids. For example, he had a house party of friends and wished 
Cedar Rapids people to meet them. He was at the time building some buildings 
to shelter his sheep, of which he had a great many. So he put floors in the 
building preparatory to entertaining his guests and friends. He found on 
short notice that if he expected to have the only good music in town he must 
take it next day. He and Mrs. Greene talked the matter over and decided to 
have the party. They sent word to the other members of the Greene family 
and intimate friends what they expected to do and they all came to their as- 
sistance. Early in the morning Mrs. Belt made out the list and the family 
delivered the invitations. Mrs. Belt and Mrs. William Greene baked all the 
cakes. I don't know just how many picked strawlierries, but Mrs. Greene told 
me that eighty quarts were picked and hulled that day. Mrs, Greene superin- 
tended the making of the ice cream and the decorating of the building. Special 
train service over the Dubuque and Southwestern was arranged to bring the 
guests from a central point to the sheep pens. All was in readiness and the 
host and hostess ready to receive their guests at eight o'clock. It was a most 
enjoyable event, and is still recalled with pleasure by the old settlers. It is 
safe to say that with the conveniences of today. s\ich a .social affair could not be 
gotten up in one day. Later when Judge Greene built his large house on the 
crowning point of Mound Farm, in the center of the beautiful grounds which 
he had been ten or more years preparing Mr. Paddington. an English gardener, 
had it in charge. Every" kind of shrub and tree that could be grown in Iowa 
was planted. The place for situation and beauty could not be equaled in Iowa, 
and the grounds were the most bea\itiful. Wlien Judge Greene had the walls 
up and readv to roof, a tornado tore them down. But nothwithstAnding this 



264 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

diseouragemciit, his house was built and furnished with the. richest furnishings 
of those days. Three thousand dollars worth of oil paintings hung on the walls. 
All the furnishings were bought in New York City. "When all was complete, 
he opened it with a most brilliant house warming. As Judge Greene always 
considered Cedar Rapids and her citizens in whatever he did, all were bidden. 
as were many of his friends throughout the state, to the opening of his new 
house. The beautiful impression of the illuminated grounds and house and the 
cordial hand-clasp of welcome from host and hostes.s that thrilled each guest 
with good fellowship and heartfelt appreciation were never forgotten. Indeed 
it was an evening of rare pleasure. 

There were a few j^ears when fancy dress parties were all the rage. The 
tirst one given was in the home of Colonel Merritt and was novel and beautiful. 
Colonel and Mrs. Merritt were charming entertainers. Colonel Jlerritt built the 
house where Dr. J. H. Smith now lives. It was bought by John W. Henderson. 
He and his handsome and cordial wife entertained hospitably. After Dr. Smith 
owned the house, he and his wife dispensed hospitality lavishly and state politi- 
cians were often their guests. 

The Daniels home was another of the hospitable homes, where many large 
parties were given especially for the plea.sure of the younger set. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Cook was for .several years the largest and 
most modern in the city. Mrs. Cook, with her charming daughters, gave many 
elegant parties The house w^as built by I. N. Isham. He only occupied it for 
a few years and sold it to H. G. Angle, who lived there one year. J. S. Cook 
then bought it and lived there many years. Now it is used for the National 
hotel annex. 

In the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. West, children as well as their older 
friends, found a warm welcome. The little folks loved to congregate there and 
entertainment and refreshments were always provided for them. "Papa and 
Mama West.'" as the children called them, were never too busy to answer all 
the questions asked by their young friends, who were always made to feel thor- 
oughly at home. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Rock was one of hospitality and of culture 
and refinement, as well. No woman ever did so much toward the education of 
the young people in early days as Mrs. Rock. She was also a great worker in 
the church and is the only living charter member of Grace Episcopal church. 

The first church wedding was in the little Second Presbyterian church. Tt 
was the marriage of Mr. George C. Haman and Miss Louise Wolf. It was at 
five o'clock in the morning, and the wedding breakfast w-as at 4 o'clock. The 
reason for lia\ing the wedding at this unseemly hour was that the bride and 
groom were going east and there was only one train a day left town, and that 
was at six in the morning. The attendants at the wedding were I\Irs. M. P. 
Mills, nee Coulter; Mrs. Portus B. Weare nee Risley; ]\Irs. Taylor, nee Earl, and 
Miss Carpenter, bridesmaids. The groomsmen were ]\Ir. James L. Bever. 'Sir. 
Carter Berkley, Mr. Jlortimer A. Higley and Dr. Lions. 

The first large piiblic affair in Cedar Rapids that gathered together all the 
people of the town, all in the state who could get here and some from Chicago 
and the east, was in June, '59. The occasion was the completion of the first 
railroad into Cedar Rapids. It was the Chicago, Iowa and Nebra.ska, now the 
Chicago & Northwestern. The citizens had looked forward to this for many 
years, and it was a financial struggle to get it through, but when it was com- 
pleted there was great rejoicing. A great celebration was given. The tables 
for the banquet were spread where now stands the Masonic Library, and the 
George B. Douglas home. The women prepared all the edibles and ^vith the 
assistance of the young men and girls, served the banquet. The men took charge 
of the speeches, parade and music. The depot was then in the lower end of 




UPPER WAGON BRIDCJE, CENTRAL CITY 




HENDERSON BRIDGE AT CENTRAL CITY 



SOCIETY IX THE EARLY DAYS L'65 

town, about Twelfth avenue and Fourth street. The speeches were made thore. 
At the finish the inanslials of the day formed all in line and marched to the 
grove where the banquet was spread, and it is needless to say the feast was 
enjoyed. I fear there were not twelve baskets full left. The climax of the occa- 
sion was a ball pivi-ii at Daniels's hall, that stood where tiie Masonic Temple now 
stands. It was a brilliant affair and the dancers tipped the light fantastic toe 
until the rosy dawn wa.s breaking. The weary dancers wended their way home 
on foot, the girls in tarlatan gowns and white kid slippers. Public carriages 
were scarce, and the new and only bus had gone to meet the early train. Thus 
ended the largest public social event up to that time. 

The years from '61 to '65 were years of great anxiety and all the entertain- 
ments given were to gather the forces to make all we could to get delicacies for 
our soldiers who were fighting in the Ci\-il war. The women, as always, did their 
part. Mrs. Ely. with her loving heart and her capable leadership, directed 
the younger women. Dramatic entertainments were given by the young people. 
I recall some of those who took part : The Misses Carrie and Kate Ely, Dr. 
Lions. William Berkley. J. H. Ilaman. Miss I,auni Weare. the Misses Coulter, 
Miss Earl, Miss Risley. Mrs. Dr. May, William Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Ilaman, 
Hall, Wood, Stibbs, and Carroll. The rest of the men had all gone to the war 
and most of these finally went. Sociables and fairs were then held to raise 
money. There were days and nights of sewing and packing barrels to be sent 
to the seat of war. These were the days when all personal sacrifice was a pleas- 
ure. When the war was over and the pall of horror was lifted, the first .joyful 
events were given in honor of fathers, husbands, brothers and lovers home from 
the war. Days and nights were spent making flags and banners, twining arches 
that were placed over the street, cooking of good things. Nothing was too good 
for the soldier boys. When the tables were spread 'in the grove the returned 
soldiers, led by Colonel T. Z. Cook, Colonel Merritt. Colonel Coulter, and General 
Jack Stibbs marched up the street. Many were scarred and lame and with 
emaciated faces. The bullet-riddled flags were carried at half mast for those 
who fell in the battle or died in southern hospitals. Our tears of joy were mingled 
with tears of sorrow. For a year or two afterwards all entertainment.s were 
given to raise money for soldiers' widows and orphans. Parties and fairs of 
everj' description were given. 

A colonial ball was given in '59, in which Colonel T. Z. Cook and Colonel 
Merritt and General Jack Stibbs came in militarj' costume. All three were 
handsome men with soldierly bearing. All who attended this ball were in col- 
onial dress. To me it was the most beautiful social function of those days. 
There were a number of beautiful women and handsome men who looked well 
in colonial style of dress. 

This party was given at Carpenter's hall Tuesday evening, March 1, 1859. 
and was for the benefit of the Mount Vernon fun<l. The patronesses were 
Mesdames Wm. H. Merritt, II. G. Angle, S. C. Koontz, Wm. Greene, J. G. Graves. 
W. B. Mack, C. B. Rowley, II. W. Perkins, S. D. Carpenter. 

The committee on arrangements was composed of Wm. II. Merritt. II. G. 
Angle, R. R. Taylor, W. B. Mack. D. M. Mcintosh, Lawson Daniels, Edward J. 
Smith, Hon. Geo. Greene, S. D. Carpenter, Wm. Greene, John G. Graves, T. Z. 
Cook, II. B. Stibbs. T. S. Mcintosh. Wm. Berkley. 

In '69 and '70 there was a fine course of lectures by Bayard Taylor. IIenr>- 
Ward Beecher, Barnum, J. O. Saxe and other noted lecturers. The money rai.sed 
was used to fit up a small public library which was in circulation for a number 
of years. 

Judge Greene built a fine opera house and always gave the use of it for enter- 
tainments for charity and the ladies gave a great many affairs. It was not un- 
usual for them to make one thousand dollars at one entertainment, for cvervtbing 



266 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

was donated and people attended entertainments of that sort better then than 
they do at the present day. Years ago towns in the vicinity of twenty miles 
returned social courtesies. In the \vinter of '68 Iowa City and Cedar Rapids 
got very friendly. A party of young people were invited to a ball given at the 
Kirkwood in Iowa City. The weather was cold, the snow deep ; but bob sleds 
were rigged up with buffalo robes. This party started out early, but owing to 
the deep snow and an upset or two, it was late when they arrived. But they had 
a pleasant time and retiu-ned late next day. 

Marion and Cedar Rapids were very cordial t« each other. When the homes 
of I. N. Preston, i\Ir. Twogood, and Preston Daniels were opened with social 
events a number of Cedar Rapids people were invited and these families gave 
beautiful parties. 



CHAPTER XXXII 

Southern Influence 

lu every frontier comuiuuity we gauge tlie sottleiueut by tlie intlueiices which 
predomiuate. Thus we have tJie Buckeye, the Iloosier, and New England ele- 
ments in certain states and coiimuuiities, making these local influences more or 
less marked traits of duiractcr, according to the size of the settlements, and also 
the temperaments of the settlers. In an early day there arrived in i>inn county 
a number of people from South Cai-olina, who located here and inthicnced the 
social side of this frontier settlement in a marked degree. These families 
settled here in 1849 : The Lcgare, Bryan, Mcintosh, Stoney, and other fam- 
ilies. The Legare family came from John's Island, about ten miles from 
Charleston, where they had lived for several centuries, being of an old French 
Huguenot family, which had removed to England and from there emigrated to 
America. It was here, or rather in Charleston, that Hugh Swinton Legare was 
bom in 1789, the mother being of Scotch descent and related to Sir Walter Scott. 
Hugh Legare first obtained a private education from a Catholic priest, later 
graduating from the University of South Carolina. He embarked in 1818 for 
France, later taking up studies in Edinburgh and on the continent. After a 
stay of two years he returned to America to take charge of his mother's plan- 
tation. Xot vuitil 1822 did he begin the practice of law in Charleston; he also 
edited the Southern Review, and in this journal advocated views opj)osed to 
nuUilication. His attitude on this f|ues1ion brought liim into prominence, and 
he was elected attorney general of the state. While in Washington he met 
Livingstone, then secretarj- of state, who offered him a position as minister to 
Belgium, which he accepted. After his return to America he was elected to con- 
gress in 1836. but was defeated for re-election in 1840 on account of his oppo- 
sition to the sub-treasnrj- bill. He was rewarded by President Tyler with a place 
in the cabinet as attorney general, and for a time acted as secretarj' of state. 
He died in 1843. one of the best known public men of his time. 

His sister, Margaret Swinton Legare. who had licen lier brother's travelling 
companion and most intimate friend, in 1849 brought a fortune to Cedar Ka|)ids. 
She was accompanied by her nephews. B. S. Bryan, Hugh L. Bryan, and Midiael 
Brj'an. It is said that nearly $80.(X)() in ca.sli were at one time invested in prop- 
erty in this county by this family alone. A large part of this amount was investi^d 
in lands and in a woolen mill, which was located near what is now known as the 
Cooper mills. 

Slicliael Bryan was married to a Miss Dwiglit, a distant relative of Ceneral 
Marion. She was also wealthy in her o«ti name. A bank was started by the 
Br>ans and tlie Wards in the early fifties known as Ward. Bryan & Co. 's Bank. 
This bank failed in the panic of IS")?, Colonel I. M. Pre.ston becoming nveiver. 

Donald M. Mcintosh, Mrs. Biitledge, and lier si.stcrs. Jojinna and llarley, 
came about the same time and were related to the other families. Many other 
less prominent soiithem people during these years came to Cedar Rapids which 
could boast of a true southern society. Mr. Mcintosh ere<'ted one of the first briek 
dwellings in the city and held various public offices. Michael Bryan was alder- 
man in 1851, while B. S. Bryan was elected city recorder. The liryans were not 
outspoken in politics, hut Mcintosh was a democrat, the aunt. Miss liCgare, held 
to the whig tenets of her illustrious brother, whose speecltes and works she 



268 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

edited. She was also interested iu church work, as well as in the education of 
women. 

Michael Bryan erected a fine residence where the old N. B. Bro-i^Ti homestead 
is now located. At this house social affairs of the little town were conducted in 
true southern style, and fortunate was the person who was favored with an invi- 
tation to visit in the Bryan home. ]\Iiehael Bryan died here, and the widow with 
her family returned to South Carolina just preceding the Civil war. B. S. 
Bryan removed to the coast and is still living in Seattle. 

Miss Legare organized a ladies' seminary, and was an artist of considerable 
talent. She was also an accomplished musician. It is said that she brought the 
first piano to the county. However, this claim lias been disputed as it is said 
that the J. P. Glass family brought a musical instrument here in 1846. 

In the '50s iliss Legare became the wife of Lowell Bulleu, an uncle of tlie 
Daniels brothers, whose home was in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. They 
resided at Marion until Mr. BuUen's death in 1869, when the ^ndow returned to 
her old home in South Carolina, surviving her husband a number of j-ears. 

Nearly all the members of the southern society were members of the Prest)y- 
terian church, and took an active part in the religious and social work of that 
people. Mrs. Bullen was kind and considerate. Her dignified presence was 
enough to give her entrance into any home. She took an active interest in the 
poor, and was interested in education in general. She loved and revered the 
memory of her statesman brother, and never forgot what place he held at one time 
in the affairs of the nation. During the rebellion she felt that her heart would 
break as she thought of friends and relatives fighting on both sides in that terrible 
struggle for the preservation of the Union. 

A letter received latelj^ from Bryan & Brj'an, attorneys of Charleston, South 
Carolina, throws some light on this subject: 

"In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, we beg to say that H. S. and B. S. 
(Benjamin Simons) and Michael Brj'an, of whom you speak, were the sons of 
Col. John Bryan, a planter of this section. 

"He (Col. John Bryan) married a sister of Hugh Legare, the writer and states- 
man, and attorney general of the United States. These sons went to Cedar Rapids 
before 1860. 

"Michael Bryan married Harriet Dwight, a sister of my mother, Rebecca 
Dwight. 

' ' It happened strangely enough, that my father, George S. Bryan, who married 
Rebecca Dwight, was no relation to Michael Bryan, who married Harriet Dwight. 
(In other words, the two Bryans being no relation, married two sisters.) 

"Michael Bryan had several children, the survivors are Emily Bryan, married 

Andrews, now living in Abbeville county. South Carolina, with a number of 

children, her husband being a planter; and William Bryan, whose residence is 
unknown to the writer. 

"Michael Bryan's nephew, Edward Bryan, is also living on one of our Sea 
Islands, in the vicinity of Charleston, and is a planter. As far as we can ascer- 
tain, B. S. Bryan of whom you speak, was engaged in banking in Cedar Rapids, 
and Michael Bryan was engaged in real estate, having built up a portion of Cedar 
Rapids. He died in Cedar Rapids before I860, and his family removed back to 
South Carolina. They were not Quakers, but Presbyterians, and attended the 
Circular church, Meeting street, in Charle.ston, S. C. which was a branch of the 
Presbyterian chiarch. ' ' 

In addition to the above mentioned, a lai^e number of cultured and educated 
people came from Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. "Who does 
not remember the aristocratic and learned A. Sidney Belt, the robust, courtly 




BAPTIST CHURCH, PRAIRIEBURG 



&^U 




ALKKK BRIDGE, AT CUVINGTON 



SOUTHERN INFLUENCE 269 

old gentleman, Colonel S. W. Durham, the versatile and polite Judge Israel 
Mitoholl, the genial Oxley hrothers, niul scores of other southern men and women ? 

The members of the Legaro, Hrynn, Mcintosh, Duriiaiii, Oxley, Ik-lt, Mitchell, 
and other southern families who IcK-ated in Linn county did much in changing 
the manners of this somewhat cosmopolitan community. These families pur- 
sued education. The members had traveled nuK.-h. They were descended from 
some of the most cultured families in this country. They were social, interest- 
ing, and entertained much, and it is needless to add that the citizens of the 
county were not slow in receiving the southern settlers into their homes. The 
presence of such an influence in the foriiuitive jieriod of the county's history 
wielded an influence which has not been entirely effaced after a period of half a 
century. 

Some time later came the Hart brothers, Jacob A. and Caspar J., and for years 
the intluenee of these sturdy men was a power for good in the city and the 
county. It will he many years before these splendid representatives of the 
southland will be forgotten. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob A. Hart was a most 
hospitable one. It was always open to the new settler from the south, and es- 
pe<'ially to those who came from Maryland, their old home. Their commodious 
brick dwelling that stood so long at the comer of Second street and Fifth avenue, 
was a center for long years of true and genuine hosi)itality. Its doors were 
never locked against a Marylander, and all these felt free to "come early and 
stay late." To many a young son of the south Mother Hart was ever the best 
of mothers, caring for the sick lads, satisfying their hunger with fried chicken 
and Maryland bjscuits — oh. who that once was welcomed there will ever lose the 
memory of it ! Mrs. Hart is yet a resident of this city, spending a ripe old age 
in dispensing the same well-remembered hospitality, going about doing the deeds 
of kindness. 

Jlrs. R. C. Rock, herself a pioneer of 1850, has \'ivid recollections of beginnings 
in Cedar Rapids. She knew the Bryans intimately, and also the Legares. She 
says they were people of culture. Mr. Stoney, the husband of Miss Bryan, was 
educated abroad, and came to Cedar Rapids in 1852 or 1858. These people were 
led In locate in the city through the influence of Judge Greene, whom they met 
in Washington. Jlrs. Rock states that at this day it is impossible to estimate 
what Judge Greene meant to the young city. Through his influence people of 
means, culture, and learning were induced to come to the city and county. He 
traveled a great deal, and something good for Cedar Rapids always resiUted. 

J. J. Snouffer was another Marylander who came to Cedar Rapids in 1850, 
and for nearly a hiilf century his was a powerful influence in the community. 
He was prominent in business and political alTairs, and was ever a loyal citizen. 

Dr. Robert Taylor, one of the prominent early physicians, came from Vir- 
ginia in 1851. Aft*r remaining here a few years he removed to Philadelphia. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

Some Township History 
BERTRAM TOWNSHIP 

In the history of Linn county Bertram township has played a conspicuous 
part, and was at various times about to be the townsliip in which were located 
some of the most enterprising towns in the county. Ivanhoe, Westport, also 
known as Newark, and other places are well known names among the early 
settlers. Their locations have been wiped off the map, so to speak, on account of 
changed conditions. The following sketch is taken largely from manuscripts 
and articles written by the late John J. Daniels, one of the old citizens of Linn 
county, one of the early county recorders, for many yeai-s a justice of the peace, 
and a well known and enterprising citizen, who was always interested in the 
old settlers and in the development of historical research in the county in early 
days. Mr. Daniels says : 

"In the early settlement of Linn county the territory now forming Bertram 
township was selected by the early settlers for very prominent reasons, it having 
good mill streams, good water, and plenty of good timber near at hand, which was 
so much needed by the early settlers for building and fencing. Two of the 
early pioneers were Thomas W. and Sarah Campbell, of Dearborn county, In- 
diana. They came in the fall of 1838 and settled on the northeast quarter of 
section 27, and obtained a patent from the United States March 7, 1844. Mr. 
Campbell was elected the first county treasurer in 1839, and in 1840 his first 
collection of covmty taxes for licenses, ferries, and lands was $985.85. He died 
February 22, 1876. 

"Perry and Catherine Campbell Oxley, of Montgomery county, Indiana, first 
located in Linn township, but in the fall of 1838 came here and took up a claim 
on the southwest quarter of section 22 and built their cabin in the grove near the 
east line. Mr. Oxley was the first constable elected in the county in 1839, and was 
bailiff of the grand jury of the county. He was the best shot in the county. He 
died September 30, 1886, universally mourned. 

"Norris and Ann Cone, of Connecticut, came in February, 1839, and settled 
on section 21. Mr. Cone later removed to Marion. George Cone, their son, 
claims the honor of being the first child born in the towTiship in 1839. 

"James and Elizabeth Leabo and Israel Mitchell, natives of Kentucky, in 
1838 left the mining regions near Dubuque and settled on claims in this township 
on the north side of the river. Mrs. Leabo died September, 1852, and James 
Iveabo removed to Oregon, where he died. 

"Mr. Mitchell was a graduate of a Kentucky college and celebrated the first 
4th of July at Westport in 1838, Judge Mitchell being the orator. 

"The first and only election of the county that year was held there, thirty-two 
votes being cast. The first store opened in the countv was at Westport, by Albert 
Henry in the fall of 1838. 

"James and Marj- Scott, of Indiana, came in 1838 or 1839. Mr. Scott was 
an enterprising farmer. He purchased a saw mill on Big creek and early built 
a large flouring mill during the fifties. On account of the failure of crops the 
mill was not a success. He died in 1894 in Marion township. 



SOME TOWNSHIP HISTORY 271 

"Elias Doty, of Ohio, came in 1838 or '39, and in 1840 commenced the build- 
ing of a saw mill on Big creek, but was accidontjilly Icillod at its raising. The 
mill property later passed into the hands of James K. Hriney. 

"James Hunter, a native of Ireland, came in 1838 and took a claim; hte 
died May 14, iSSS, at the age of sixty-nine. 

"Everett Oxley, a native of Kentucky, born in 1812, at the age of fifteen re- 
moved to Indiana where he married Catherine Milner, also a native of Kentucky, 
coming to Linn county in 1840. Mr. Oxley died in 1887. Several of the Oxley 
family emigrated to Linn county. 

"Jeremiah Daniels arrived in the spring of 1844 with a stock of dry goods, 
trading for wheat in the fall, shipping same by flat-boat to St. Louis. In the 
fall of 1847-8 he built a saw mill on Indian creek and a few years later located a 
flour mill on Big creek. Mr. Daniels died in 1882." 

Mr. Daniels further states that some of the early settlers were the following: 

"Michael and Peter McRoberts, Peter D. Harman, Ben and John Dewitt, 
John. Joseph, and Nancy Gourly, Andrew and Thomas Dill, Isaac, Lawrence, 
Elijah, and Joseph Wain, Louis Lafore, Perry and Ann Knapp, Ada J. James, 
Steve, Charles, Daniel, George, Theresa, and Ann Rose, Sylvester Lyons, Thomas 
Rose. James and Thomas Piner, James M. and Susan Doty, Abraham Darr, 
John Arford. Hiram and Mary Leabo-Deem, Sam and Rachel Stambaugh, Jon- 
athan and Dorcas Paul, John Bromwell, Michael Cox, Louis Kramer, Dr. Grove, 
Dave Stambaugh, James Briney, Leonard Speckelmeyer, James Berry, James 
Anderson, Caleb Dyer, Joseph Caraway, John and Mary Scott, and Samuel 
Durham." 

Some of the Bertram justices have been William S. Darr, Frank Allen, W. B. 
Plummer, E. Doty, J. C. Anderson. 

Bertram township has been the location of a number of squatter towns. 
William Stone first staked out a squatter town and called it Westport. He sold 
out his right to Albert Henry and then staked out Columbus where Cedar Rapids 
is now located. Henry, it is stated, erected two of the first frame buildings in 
this town, and in fact in this part of the county. The only sawed lumber in the 
entire buildings were the window frames and the casings. The siding was what 
was known as shaved lumber. These buildings were torn down in 18fil by Elias 
and Daniel Dotj'. One of these buildings was used by James Doty for his pottery 
shop up to the time of his death. Perry Oxley bought Albert Henry's squatter 
claim and he later sold his right, title, and interest in the town as well a-s in about 
117 acres of land at .$2.50 an acre. Now for the first time James Doty thought 
he would comply with the law, and on November 12, 1844, filed a plat in accord- 
ance with the law and called the town Newark, from Newark, New Jersey, his 
birthplace. Ivanhoe was never platted, but was only a squatter town founded by 
Cowles. Colonel Merritt kept the first store at Ivanhoe for parties in Rock Island. 
This town had better prospects of becoming a grei\t city than any other town in 
the county. It had a good ri%'er frontage, a rich countrj* around it, plenty of 
timber and good water, and had the government road besides. For some unknown 
cause the place seems to have been icmored when Marion and Cedar Rapids began 
to flourish. This is true, tlmt Ivanhoe and Westport were laid out expecting the 
river to be the means of communicating with the outside world. The railroads, 
mills, dams and other things changed conditions, and the Indian trading villages 
came to naught. 

FAIRFAX TOWNSHIP 

Fairfax township lies in the extreme southwest portion of Linn county. 
Prairie creek, at times an unruly stream, drains this |)art of the coiuity. In the 



272 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

early day this portion of Linn county had more or less timber, especially in what 
is known as Scotch Grove, northeast of the town of Fairfax. This timber has, 
for the most part, been cut oif . 

The first settlere, as far as is known, who came to this part of the county 
were Robert and Jane Ure with their family of grown children, in the spring of 
1841. The children were John, Margaret, James, William, Robert, Walter, and 
David. The family had emigrated from Scotland in 1838 and gone west, lo- 
cating in Ohio for a short time, removing to Iowa territory in search of land. 
They located in the northwestern part of the township in the grove which has 
since been called "Scotch Grove." The Ures wrote back to Scotland to their 
friends, and for many years emigrants came who located in and around Scotch 
Grove in Linn and Benton coiuities. Later came the JIcDowell family, the Lis- 
tebargers, the McKinnons, the Mitchells, Giddings, Knickerbockers, Flahertys. 
Ferriters, Henrj's, Cahills, Hines, JIcFarlands, and many others. 

A cemetery was established in Scotch Grove where a number of the early 
settlers are buried. The cemetery near Fairfax is now the one in use, and also 
the Catholic cemetery southwest of Fairfax. 

One of the first school teachers in the townsliip was ilrs. Keziah McDowell, 
who taught in a private house. The first school building was erected in 1855 
on the place where the Elm Grove school now stands. The first teacher who 
taught in a school building was a Mr. Eckerman. who boarded around. The 
families who had children attending school at that time were the McKinnons, the 
Listebargers, and the Hodges. 

The first reaping machine in this part of the county was purchased by Wil- 
liam Ure at Chicago in the summer of 1847, and was a hand-raking machine. 
Mr. Ure drove with an ox team to Chicago and returned with a machine in time 
for cutting the grain that summer. After he got started all the neighbors 
helped and the machine was run night and day until the season was over and the 
grain harvested. 

The Scotch families were United Presbyterians, and for many years attended 
church in Cedar Rapids. In May, 1858, the Presbyterian church was organized 
and established in Scotch Grove. The fiftieth anniversary of the establishment 
of this church was celebrated in 1908, and the paper read by Miss Jennie G. 
Mitchell, daughter of James Mitchell, now residing in Cedar Rapids, gives a 
full history of the church and of many of the old settlers of this county, and is 
herewith inserted in full : 

"THE ORIGIN OF FAIRFAX U. P. CHURCH 

"The first settlers in this part of Linn covin ty, Iowa, were Robert and Jane 
lire, who, with a family of grown children, came here in the spring or summer 
of 1841. The children were John, Margaret, James William, Jane, Robert. 
Walter, and David. The family had emigrated from Scotland in 1838 and spent 
the intervening yeai-s near Springfield, Ohio. But land was high in the old set- 
tlements and they came 'west' where they could enter government land, 
settling, or at first camping, on the same ground where this church is built. 
Log houses were soon erected and some land entered and a few years later a brick 
house was built, the first in this part of the coimtry. The brick was made by the 
boys and the entire house erected without the assistance of any expert, the lime 
being hauled all the way from Muscatine. The Ure family did not leave their 
religion in the Auld Kirk in the Homeland, but during all their travels, whether 
they tarried or camped for only the night, the morning and evening sacrifice of 
family prayer was offered; and on Sabbath at noon the family were gathered 
and God's word read, followed by praise and prayer. Thus they kept God's 
holj- day and worshiped in their own home until preaching could be obtained. 




THE "OLD SCHOOL" COGGON 




SOUTH SIDE MAIN STREET, COGGON 



SOME TOWNSIIII' HISTORY 2TA 

and by searching the records of tlie First United Presbyterian church of Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa, we find that on tlie 9th day of Septeml)er, 1S50, a meeting was held 
and a petition forwarded to the Associate t'resl)ytery of Iowa, asking for a supply 
of preaching, and in ISol the congregation in Cedar Rapids was organized, the 
Ure family uniting with them. 

"The cheap land and plenty of timber attracted others, and in the early 
fifties the McKinnon family came from ycolland and settled in Linn county 
near Scotch Grove. In 1852 Samuel and Sarah llall, with their large family, 
settled at Sislcy's Grove, and in 1854 James Cleghorn, Sr., with his two children 
and John and Agnes Anderson. James Cleghorn and Agnes Anderson were 
brother and sister. James Clesrhorn. Jr., is still living near where they located 
and built their first home. Robert Hrownlie and family now reside where the 
Anderson hinne was built. This same year (1854) Joseph and Margaret Hum- 
phrey and family came and s(?ttled south of Prairie Creek, and in the spring of 
1855, James and John Mitchell with their wives and families, and later Walter 
Mitchell and John and Jane McGregor with their families of sons and daughters, 
and a few years later Moses Mitchell, all finding homes in and around Scotx-h 
Grove. 

"The I're family, thus reinforced, soon after liegan an elTort to secure 
preaching at Scotch Grove. But who first proposed asking for preaching, or 
where the meeting was held, is not on record and can not be recalled, but a 
minute on the records of the Cedar Rapids church, dated Jlay 25, 1856, reads 
thus: 'The people of Scotch Grove presented a petition and were granted one- 
fourth of the pastor's time.' But by whom this petition was j)resented is not 
recorded. Another record reads: At a meeting of the United Presbyterian 
church of Kingston, held on Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock, July 6, 1858, the 
following paper was adopted: Action of the U'nited Presbyterian congregation 
of Kingston in relation to the organization of a church at Scotch Grove, Linn 
County, Iowa. Resolved: that we approve of the organization with the 
understanding that they continue in connection with us as the same pastoral 
charge until otherwise ordered by the Presbytery.' But the name of the Pres- 
byter}' is not mentioned. It is supposed that Joseph Humphrey carried the 
petition to Presbytery. The organization was granted and on the 12th day of 
August, 1858, a meeting was held in the home of James and Mary Ure. a sermon 
preached and the congregation organized by Rev. Hugh Sturgeon. There were 
fifteen charter members, and the name given the congregation was 'Fairfax.' 
The names of all present can not be recalled, but we remember that John Beatty, 
who later with his family came to the neighborhood, brought Mr. Sturgeon and 
was present at this meeting. Three elders were elected, Joseph Humphrey, 
Alexander Johnson and James Mitchell. James Mitchell did not accept the 
oflBce and at a later meeting James Ure was elected and with the other two, or- 
dained and installed. Thus organized and equipped they began the work with 
high hopes and willing hands, if not much ready money. There being no public 
bjiilding whieh could be used for religious meetings, they were held in homes, 
most of the lime in the home of Miss Margaret Ure. Rev. Sturgeon did not long 
remain and others eame, Rev.s. Douthett. A. J. Allen, Sawhill, Fulton, and 
others. D(«>tor Roberts of the Covenanter faith preached a few times. One 
occasion is remembered when he was tn preach in the home of Mr. Wadswortii. 
where Mr. and .Mrs. William Ru.s,sell now live. Heavy rains had fallen during 
the week and Prairie creek wa.s over its banks, with the bridge either washed away 
or overflowed. Several families lived on the other side who must attend the 
8e^^•iee on the Sabbath, no thought of the high water Ix'ing an excuse for staying 
at home. They wished to attend and were needed to a.ssist with the singing. 
The names of three families are remembenal: Dixon. Junk, and Humphivy. 
Among other plans some one suggested building a raft, whom we do not remember, 



274 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

but superintended by Andrew Mitohell the work was be^in, and finished Satur- 
day afternoon. Sabbath afternoon the families came in their wagons as far as 
the creek, where they were met bj' neighbors on this side, ferried across by An- 
drew Mitchell, and conveyed to the home of Mr. Wadsworth. After the service 
they were brought back to the place of crossing and again ferried over, all in a 
quiet way becoming the day and occasion. Thus obstacles were met and over- 
come with the persistent detei-mination of people who retained some of the spirit 
of their invincible John Knox. But a school house was erected in the early 
sixties, known as the James Ure school house, and religious meetings were held 
here. If possible, preaching, if not, Sabbath school and prayer meeting until 
their first pastor. Rev. J. T. Torrence, came among them. 

"Shall we ask: Did the work prosper? How well, vines transplanted from 
tlie Scotch Grove church in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho and far-off 
California will testify. 

"Is it povssible to over-estimate the courage and perseverance of our fathers 
and mothens, who began the work in this new country under the great difficulties 
and privations, and whose faith, as well as strength of arm, has made possible 
the privileges we, their children, enjoy? "We trust we shall not forget, but to 
succeeding generations tell the heroism of the daily strife and the earnestness 
and value of the twice daily prayer, ' All honor to the builders of this Church. ' 

'The world may soimd no trumpets — ring no bells. 
The book of life the shining record tells. ' 

"THE CHARTER MEMBERS 

"Fifty years is a longer time than the memory of most of tho.'e living runs. 
The span of life is not always, in fact not usually, lengthened t-o include events 
80 wide apart in space of time. 

"Fifty years ago, the great Civil war had not been fought, and it was tlie 
hopes of those who held the welfare of their country nearest to their hearts that 
such a calamity might be averted. Fifty years ago, the memory of those two 
great national characters, "Webster and Clay, whose eloquence and zeal post- 
poned that great contest a decade, was fresh to the little band that bound them- 
selves together here at Scotch Grove that they might have the privileges of a 
church home. 

"In May of 1858, the United Presbyterian church was formed by the union 
of the Associate Presbyterians and Associate Reform Presbyterian churches. In 
the fall of that same year, fifteen devoted Christian citizens organized the new 
congregation and called it the United Presbyterian Church of Fairfax. Iowa. 

"It is interesting to note that while these fifteen early pioneers were planning 
for the organization, Abraham Lincoln was debating with Douglas the merits of 
the Dred Scott decision. 

' ' These fifteen charter members were : 

"Samuel Hall and wife, Sarah Hall. 

"Joseph Humphrey and wife, Margaret Humphrey. 

"Alexander Johnson and wife, Janet ]\IeKinnon Johnson. 

"James Mitchell and ^v\?e, Margaret Mc Arthur Mitchell. 

"John Mitchell and wife, Margaret Jlitchell. 

"William McKinnon and ^\'ife, Janet IMcKinnon. 

"James Ure and %vife, Mary Ure, and 

"Miss Margaret Ure. 

"Associated with these fifteen charter members in word and work were 
John McGregor and wife, Jane Robertson McGregor, who later became members 
of the new organization. 



SOME TOWNSHIP HISTORY 275 

■'Of these persons, there are three still living — Mr. and Mrs. James Ure, 
who live at Denver. Colorado, and Mr. James Mitchell, who lives at Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa. [Mr. and Mrs. l^re are now deceased, 1910]. 

"James and Marparet Ure were among the very earlie.st settlers in this com- 
munity. They, with their parent-s, had come to Iowa in 1841, five years before 
the territory was admitted to statehood. Both were bom in Scotland and came 
to America in 1838, settling near Springfield, Oliio, whore thoy lived till they 
came west. In 1857 James Itc was married to Mary Kerr. She was born in 
March, 1835. in Mercer, Pennsylvania, where she spent her early childhood. later 
removing with her parents to DubiKjue, Iowa. They began housekeeping on 
their fann just east of the grove, where they lived till April, 1892, when they 
moved to Denver, Colorado. 

"In September, 1879, Mr. Ure asked for his certificate of admission, which 
was granted. He was one of the ruling elders elected at the time of the organ- 
ization. 

"Margaret Ure was bom in Scotland in 1821. After coming to Scotch Grove 
she resided on the Ure homestead, now owned by Jas. Rogers. She was a woman 
of great abilities and was always liberal in giving of her time and means to the 
work of the church. The church building was not erected for some years after 
the organization of the congregation and her home was alwaj's open for the 
holding of services during this time. The piilpit furniture now in use was a gift 
of hers. She removed to Cedar Rapids in 1884, where she died. She was buried 
in the Fairfax cemetery. 

"James Mitchell, one of the three surviving charter members, and who now 
resides at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was bom March 3, 1821, in Buchlyvie. Stirling- 
shire, Scotland. He came to America in 1851 and settled in New York state. 
July 8, 1853, he was married to Margaret Mc Arthur and in July, 1855. came to 
Linn county, Iowa. Mrs. Mitchell was born June 8, 1823, and died June 20, 
1904, at the age of 81 years and 12 days. 

"At the time Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell camo west, in 1855, the railroad ran no 
farther west than to Rock Island. At this point they, in company with Margaret 
and William Ure, were compelled to cross the Mississippi river on the ice. It 
was here that they received their first initiation into the life of hardship and 
peril that fell to the life of the early pioneer. While crossing the river, the 
wheels of their dray began to cut through the ice. There was danger of the ice 
giving way and all being drowned, but by means of levers and props they were 
able to reach the Iowa shore in safety. 

"When Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell reached Scotch Grove, they took for their 
home a small log house some five or six rods southwest from the present church 
building, and with the munificent sum of ten dollars with which to furnish their 
home, started to carve out their career in the new country. With Mrs. Mitchell 
there was little thought of what her spring hat would be like, or what she should 
serve when it came her turn to give a Kensington to the ladies of the community. 
It would probably be some days before any money would find its way into the 
family purse, and those ten dollars must be g\iarded with jealous care. True, 
potatoes could be had, and Mr. Ure and his family had proven that the potato 
could be used as the sole article of diet for at leiust three months. 

"In 1898 they removed to Cedar Rajiids. where foiir years ago Mrs. Mitchell 
died. She was l)uried at Fairfax cemetery. Mr. Mitchell is now eighty-seven 
years of age. He was elected to the office of ruling eldi>r in December, 1879, 
which he filled till the time he removed to Cedar Rapids. July 8, 1903, Mr. and 
Mrs. Mitchell celebrated their golden wedding. 

"John Mitchell came to America in 1853. Margaret McGregor Mitchell 
wan born in Sterlingshire, Scotland. Septeml)er 8, 1831. In 1852 she came to 
America with her parents, settling in New York state. The following year she 



276 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

was married to Mr. John Mitchell and in 1855 came to Scotch Grove. Here 
they settled in a small log house near the present church lot. Robert Ure, father 
of James and Margaret Ure, had, during the time of the gold excitement in Cal- 
ifornia, built three of these houses, the first being erected without the use of 
a nail. 

"Mr. Mitchell entered forty acres of land west of where the Conley school 
house now stands. After the school house was built, preaching services and Sab- 
bath school were held there, and Mr. Jlitehell was one of the most active iu lending 
help and maintaining the services. He died January 17, 1896, at Norwaj'; she 
February 3, 1892. Both were buried in the Fairfax cemetery. 

"Alexander Johnson was bom in Pennsylvania, his father coming to America 
from Ireland. On coming to Iowa he lived at Cedar Rapids for a time, where 
he teamed. Here he lost his first wife and was later married to Janet IMcKinnon, 
who was bom in Bo'ness, Scotland, and came to America in 1845. 

"Mrs. Johnson owned some land at Que's Grove, now known as Quam's 
Grove. This she bought from the government. Jtr. Johnson had money with 
which to build a house and they thus moved on the land, where they lived till 
the time of his death. 

"Mr. Johnson was elected to the office of ruling elder when the congregation 
was organized, and was at all times an active and persistent worker in the church. 
He had become attached tx) his early church home and was reluctant to leave. It 
may seem strange, but yet it is true, that the place where a person spends the 
best years of his life, where he has toiled and labored to make a home, becomes 
in old age, after he is compelled to lay down his labors, the spot that is dearest 
to him. He had seen the commimity grow and develop, and as it had grown, his 
hopes had opened. 

"Some time prior to his death, the members of his family wanted to remove 
to Washington, Iowa. He could not entertain the thought of leaving his old 
home community, whose growth and development had meant so much to him, and 
in a conversation with a member of the congregation remarked that he had 
said, 'If they take me away from here, it will be in my coffin, but now I have 
given my consent to go.' 

"He was not permitted to make the change. During the latter part of his 
life he was confined to his bed. He died at Norwaj', having reached the age of 
eighty-four years. Mrs. Johnson died three years ago at Washington, Iowa. 

"Joseph Humphrey was bom in New York state, Januarj' 19, 1816, and when 
quite young his parents removed to Butler county, Pennsylvania. In 1836 he 
was married to Margaret Gill. She was born May 30, 1818, in Butler county, 
Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa May 5, 1855, and settled near Norway. 

"In the church he occupied the highest office to which a private member can 
be called by the voice of the congregatiou, that of ruling elder, being chosen elder 
at the organization of the congregation. He had a high sen.se of the responsi- 
bility of his office, viewing it as one of divine authority. It was liis study, 
as a stewai'd of God, to fulfill its duties and maintain its authoritj-. He was 
punctual and regular in attendance at all the meetings of the congregation and 
gave largely of his means and time in forwarding its interests. He believed that 
the minister was worthy of his hire, and rather than neglect this duty he would 
let his boys go barefooted to church. He died December 5, 1871, at the age of 
fifty-six years. jMrs. Humphrey died May 22, 1900, eight days before her eighty- 
second birthday. Both were buried in Fairfax cemetery. 

"Samuel Hall was born March 29. 1806, in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
vania. His wife, Sarah Jobe Hall, was bom October 8, 1808, in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania. In April of 1851 they came to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and 
entered land just west of that place, where thev lived till their removal to Cedar 
Rapids ill 1883. Mrs. Hall died March 10. 1886. and :\Ir. Hall on the 13th, three 




SCENE ON THE CEDAR AT CEDAK KAPIDS 



t 


m 






prit€^«^'"'"Mm-' ; 







BIRDSEVE VIEW LOOKING EAST. CEDAR RAPIDS 




CEDAR RIVER DAM, CEDAR RAPIDS 



^0- 



SO.ME TOWNSHIP HISTORY 277 

days later. Both were buried iu the same grave in Sisley Grove cemetery. They 
were cue of tlie four eouples meiitioiiod liere, who celebrated their golden weddiug. 

"Mr. and .Mrs. William .McKinnon were born in Scotland and were married 
before coming to America. They eamc to Seotch Grow at an early datf. about 
1852. For a time they lived with David -McKinnon. ca.st of the grove, atul lat<'r 
moving to their new home north of Norway. Moved to the wt-steni part of the 
state and there died. 

"During the early days of the new congregation, Mr. McKinnon rendered 
saluable sen-ices as leader in the singing. His dear and distinct voice could be 
heard and followed with ea.se by the bmly of the congregation. 

"Mr. and Mrs. John McGregor were both born in Scotland, he Miiy 11, 1801. 
in Callanilcr. she August 1.'3, 18()(!, in Bo'ness. They cunic to America in \S^>2. 
settling iu New York, and iu 1857 came to Iowa where they .settled on a farm 
west of the grove. Mr. McGregor was active in the work of the church and" 
especially in the raising of fimds for the new church building. Both were loyal 
supporters of the church, and were anu)ng thosi- who kept their membership in 
the congregation till the time of their death. 

"The same vessel that brought them to America brought Mr. Jas. Mitchell. 
It was a Sidling vessel and required six weeks to cro.s.s the ocean. This past 
summer their great-granddaughtere made the voyage in the Lusitania in less 
than five days. 

"In 1877 they celebrated their golden wedding at their home, the same home 
they chose when first coming to Scotch Grove. Mr. McGregor died November 8, 
1894, at the age of ninety-three years, the greatest age reached by any of the 
early mend)ers. Augu.st 13, 1880. Mrs. McGregor died, being just seventy-four 
years old. Both were buried in the Fairfa.x cemetery. 

"Conditions then and now arc quite dilTerent. Railroads were not j-et built 
into the community. At one time the produce had to be hauled to Davenport 
and Muscatine. It took a week to make the trip and when one got back home, 
little was left to encourage another trip. There were no roads in many places, 
and the oxen, which were often used in those days, frequently left the wagon 
stuck in sonu> slough. Before railroads were built into Cedar Rapids, a steam- 
boat came up the river from the Mississippi, bringing groceries and dry-goods 
and carrying the produce back. No money could be hail for the grain and stock. 
One nuist take in exchange for them groceries and dry-goods. The panic of 
1857 had not yet spent its force. Such were the conditions surrounding the 
early pioneers when the congregation was organized. 

"These members were not only pioneers in carving out homes in a new country, 
but they were pioneers of the faith. Religious services. Sabbath school aiul 
prayer meetings were held at Conley school lumse, at N'orwa.v, and at Livermore 
school house, besides those held at the church. They cherished the hope and faith 
in the divine which they had brought with them to the new country, and were 
persistent in offering to all who might come, the advantages of the sanctuary. 

"The early pioneers are always men of firm faith, sturdy and strong in their 
beliefs, Fct in their opinions. It is not to be wondered at, that when the question 
of where to erect the new church building arose, there were differences of opin- 
ion. Some wanted it located at Brownlie's corner, some at Conley 's school house 
and some just west of the present site. It was at such times that William lire 
stepped into the threatened breach and by his calm counsel brought unity to 
the opposing opinions. Althoueh not a member of the Fairfax congregation 
Mr. Ure rendered services as valuable as any of its members in giving financial 
aid and in other ways. 

"Of these fifteen charter members, Mr. and Mrs. James Mitchell, James and 
MarL'arct I're, William McKinnon and John Mitchell were all born and lived 
during tlieir childhood in the same community in Scotland. They were all bap- 



278 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

tized by the Rev. Mr. Russell, aud they attended the same clmreh and school. 
In coming west to the new country they chose out a beautiful spot, fertile and 
productive. During the fifty years, within the memory of one of the charter 
members, land that was bought from the government for $1.25 per acre has been 
sold for $150 per acre. 

"Four of these couples, Mr. aud Mrs. Jas. Mitchell, Mr. and I\Irs. Samuel 
Hall, Jlr. and Mi-s. Jas. Ure, aud ilr. and ]\Irs. John McGregor, have celebrated 
their golden weddings. Of these early pioneers of Scotch Grove, one has passed 
the age of ninety years, six have passed the age of eighty yeai-s, and but two 
died before reaching the age of seventy, a beautiful commentary upon their rug- 
ged and sturdy character and habits." 

BOULDER TOWNSHIP 

Boulder to^\'iiship is located in the northern part of the county and despite 
its name is one of the most fertile aud productive portions of the county. The 
surface is generally rolling, dotted in an early day with excellent groves of native 
timber. Buffalo creek in the days before windmills were in common use was a 
much prized stream which was used by farmers near and far, for the use of their 
stock. William Wagner is supposed to have made the first settlement in 1850. 
He was shortly followed by William JIcQueen and Silas Edington. Later came 
the following named persons: John Warier, Will Ward, H. B. Bro^^ii, Frank 
Cooly, J. Wilds, J. Bamhardt and Ben Harrison. In the earh- fifties came an 
itinerant ^Methodist minister, John Bell, and organized a small congregation, ser- 
vices being held in a school hou.se near the present site of Prairieburg. The John 
McQueen grist mill which began operation about 1854 on Buffalo creek, a mile 
southwest of Prairieburg, was a noted mill in its day and was largely patronized 
by the early settlers. The town of Prairieburg was named by Henry Ward, the 
first postmaster. The first house was a log stnicture built by Joe Barnhardt in 
1853. N. Parsons erected the second house and Heniy WajTie the third, which 
was a store building where he opened a store. In 1856, Will Wagner started a 
shoe shop, and other buildings, such a.s hotels and blacksmith shops came later. 
The recent advent of the railroad has boomed the town and the price of land has in- 
creased greatly. A number of the early settlers and their descendants are still 
land o\\Tiers in this township, Coquillette, Whitney, Paul. O'Rourke, Carpenter, 
Walker, McQueen, Burke, Rundle, Pillard, Nelson, Lacy, Leomird, Le Clerc, Smith, 
Cushman, Hill, Soesbe, Garvis, Drexler, Tear, Considine. JIatsel, and other well 
known families. 

CLINTON TOWNSHIP 

Clinton township, with a population of 1,000 people, located in the western 
tier of townships, has a rich, productive soil and has been farmed continuously 
for sixty yeare and the soil shows no sign of deterioration. The farmers resid- 
ing in Clinton township have well improved farms, good roads and a number of 
fine school houses and churches. For many years the road known as the Toledo 
road, as well as the Marengo road, were the two chief thoroughfares for travelers, 
gold seekers, and others, and consequently it was early well advertised. 

Among some of the earlj- settlers in this township may he mentioned John 
Conley, Hiram Usher, Joe Bro\m. Dyer Usher, George Buchanan, Reese and the 
Langhams, and scores of others who came here in the '40s. 

James Yuill, Henry INIaurer, John Fox, Whiteneck. Sisley, Kuhn, Wieneke, 
Lederman, O'Connell, the Miller family. ]\Iisners, Scotts, Swetts, Hall, Snell, 
and many others of the early settlers came liere in an early day, building up the 
community. They have long since passed away leaving their children and grand- 
children large tracts of productive land. 



SOME TOWNSHIP HISTORY 279 

Sisley Grove was at a very early time a place where all the settJers, as well as 
travellers, congregated. The grove at tlmt time was much larger than it is at 
present, and many of tlie farmers adjoining owned small tracts of land in this 
grove where they cut rails and fence posts for their farms during the winter. 

Here is also located a cemetery where many of the old settlers are buried, 
and at an early day a church was built at which the early pioneers congregated 
once a week to hear the word of God preached. In tlie absence of any regular 
preacher frequently the pioneer farmers preached to the congregations. This 
church was abandoned some years ago and the congregation has since worshiped 
at Fairview, a few miles further east. 

Here, also, was located Kulm's blacksmith shop and hotel. Kulin was a queer 
old fellow, who not only was an expert blacksmith but the onlj' one for miles 
who was competent to shoe oxen, and consequently during the winter months 
he was a very busy man. Kuhn not only was a good horseshoer and blacksmith, 
but he was a dentist as well and pulled teeth when blacksraithing was slack. At 
one time he pulled a tooth for an old settler with an instrument used in those 
days and as it was pretty severe he gave a drink of whiskey to stop the pain. 
After the fellow fully recovered bis senses the t«oth ached as before and tJie 
patient learned that the dentist had pulled the wrong tooth and so informed the 
blacksmith, to which the blacksmith replied, "That will be easy to remedy, just 
take another drink and we will go at it again, and you will not be out very much 
as my charges are only ten cents a tooth." Old Mr. Kvihn seemed to know the 
wants of the commiuiity, for he kept a barrel of whiskey in his blacksmith shop 
and sold the stuff at thirtj- cents a gallon, and sensed free drinks to anyone on 
paying bis bill. The hotel was not a modem kind of a house, but was generally 
full, as travellers in those days were plentiful. The old man also sold feed to 
travellers and consequently he generallj' got a little something out of every travel- 
ler who passed by Sisley Grove. 

The grove was named in honor of the first settler who owned most of the land 
on which the grove is situated. During the early '50s and '60s Clinton township 
produced more wheat, it is said, than any other township in the coimty, all of 
which was hauled to Cedar Rapids. 

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP 

Buffalo township was first settled by George C. Perkins, who came here in 
1839 and made a claim which he occupied thereafter during his lifetime. In the 
early days it was well wooded and consequently much of this land was sold in 
small strips to adjoining farmers. 

GRANT TOWNSHIP AND WALKER 

For the following interesting sketch of the early settlement of northwestern 
Linn county we are under obligations to Justin Barry, editor of the W^alker News. 

Grant township, forming the northwest comer of Linn county, was organized 
in 1872 as the result of a struggle over the levying of a tax in aid of the construc- 
tion of a railroad. The B., C. R. & N., since incorporated into the Rock Island 
system, had projected a line from Cedar Rapids north toward the Minnesota 
line. Washington township, then embracing much more territorj* than at present, 
had voted a five per cent tax in aid of the road. Those living in the northern 
portion of the township rebelled, and in an effort to escape the tax petitioned for 
a division of the t«rritor>- and the formation of a new township. They succeeded 
in the latter effort and tlie new township was designated Grant, in honor of Gen- 
eral Grant, who was then president. However, the people did not escape the tax, 
and some of those who most vigorously opposed it later embarked in businew in 



280 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

the new town of Walker, whieli .sprung up with the coming of the railroad, and 
thus their defeat became in fact the foundation for modest fortunes, which came 
from the large territory and the equally large profits of pioneer business days. 

As the earlier settlers sought out the timbered sections regardless of the quality 
of the land, what is now Grant township, comprised as it is almost wholly of 
prairie, was one of the last portions of the county to be developed. Some few 
settlers came early, but progress generally was slow. A family named Xorris 
was the first to settle wdthin its territory, being alreadj' located along what is now 
its southern border when John K. Speake and family came in 1840. The Xor- 
rises have since disappeared and no one seems to know whither they went. James 
Buforde Speake is now the oldest living settler in the township, and though past 
eighty years of age he continues to operate the farm in section 19 on which his 
father filed when the family arrived here from Illinois in 1840. 

Other settlers came at long intervals, but for many years after the arrival of 
the first it was predicted with great assurance that the northern portion of the 
township never would be settled but would always remain a wilderness. And yet 
this valley, including the present town site of Walker, lying north of what in the 
early days was called Wright's Grove, now Fox's Grove, must have presented an 
attractive picture and one of rare beauty in its wild state, viewed from the sur- 
rounding hills, a little creek winding its way through the center, flanked all about 
by great rolling ridges and fringed on either bank with willows, with here and 
there a giant oak towering above all else. 

William Davis settled in the southwest portion of the township in 1841. and 
on bis farm in about 1850 or a little earlier was laid out the first cemetery in the 
township. It is still in use for that purpose and many of the monuments erected 
in the early days bear quaint in.scriptions. Mr. Davis died in 1866, leaving a 
large estate to liis sons, Ilezekiah and Edward, who carried on extensive farm 
operations. The former kept a pack of hounds and for many years scoured the 
country for miles around in search of wolves. The Davises later met with reverses 
and left the county years ago shorn of a large share of the princely estate, which 
once had embraced many hundreds of acres of land in Benton and Linn counties. 

E. D. Hazeltine, who died only a few weeks ago at his home in Center Point, 
was another early settler in the soxithern portion of the township, and he was 
long active in all its interests. He served for some time in the early days as a 
county commissioner. During the '50s numerous pioneer families arrived, in- 
cluding those of Thomas Fee. W. C. Ring, C. G. and Benjamin Gitchell, W. S. 
Bliss, Chorydon Gilchrist, Christian lehl, and others. 

Following the close of the Civil war development was more rapid, a number of 
soldiers fresh from the service .ioiniug the pioneers in their work of subduing 
the wilderness. In 1873 when the railroad arrived settlement had reached the 
northern border of the township, where James A. North, Walker Purviance, 
William Moses and others were located. The building of the railroad brought the 
establishment of a new to\Mi on section 4. which was called Walker, in h9nor of 
W. W. Walker, then chief engineer and afterward superintendent and receiver 
of the road. 

James K. Hotchkin built the first business building, opening a general store, 
and he was also appointed as the first po.stmaster. The second business l)uilding 
was erected by Theo. Hamblin, present mayor of the town, who engaged in the 
grocery business. 0. C. Barnes built a hotel on the site now occupied by the 
Walker Ncirs office, and Fred Hoffman erected the store building now occupied 
by S. Liddle. The first residence was built by C. G. Gitchell, who leased his farm 
in section 21 and engaged in the lumber and grain business in partner.ship with 
Fred Hoffman, and Mrs. Gitchell was the first woman resident of the town. 
Messrs. Gitchell and Hoffman prospered greatly in business, amassing modest 
fortunes, and both remained for many years among the leaders in tmsiness affairs. 




QUAKER OATS PLANT, CEDAR RAPIDS 




^A 







STREET RAILWAY STATION AT BEVER PARK, CEDAR RAPIDS 



SOME TUWNSllU' IILSTUKV 281 

Mr. CJiti-liell later re ji resented his county for two terms in the lower house of the 
General Assembly of Iowa. 

The town prew steadily and at once beeame an important market point, tapping 
a wide t<?rritory of rieh farming eountry, and for many years it has Ikm-u recog- 
nized as the best shipping point on the Deeorah division of the Rwk Island, 
barring only one or two of the larger cities. The farmers soon tunied their atten- 
tion largely to dairying, and in the town now is one of the finest creamery plants 
in the state. " Walker"' iiutter having gained a wide fame in the city market.s. 

Municipal atVaii-N have been wisely and economically administered ever since 
the ineorjuiration of the town in 1891. when the following were chosen as the first 
officers: Mayor. \V. A. Jones; eouncilmen. C. (J. Uitehell, J. 1*. Hro.ss, II. J. Nie- 
tert, J. N. Keys, Theo. Hamblin and P. L. Ilutchins; recorder. 0. C. Swartz; 
treasurer. M. 13. Dodge; as.se.s.sor. E. R. Wheeler; mai-shal, J. M. Peyton. Walker 
now ha.s a pretty park embracing about two blocks of ground, a complete muni- 
cipal water-works system affording tire protection U) all portions of the town, and 
a well eijuipped fire department. The water-works system has just been re-en- 
forced by the sinking of a second deep well, affording an inexhaustible supply of 
water, and the installation of a second pumping equipment. 

The town 's graded school system has reached a high standard of efficiency, and 
its graduates rank well as teachers and a.s .students in higher institutions. The 
school has four departments, all of tlicm crowded to their full capacity, the en- 
rollment including many tuition scholars. Several thousand dollars have already 
been set aside as the foundation of a fund for the erection of a new brick school 
building, which will be a necessity within a few years. 

The town is well supplied with churches, having four protestant and one 
Catholic society. In the order of their organization they arc: Methodist Episco- 
pal. Free Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian. Christian. The first church organ- 
ized in the town was in 1874 by the Wesleyan Methodist, but that denomination 
has since passed from the field. 

That the town and surrounding country are prosperous and rapidly growing 
in wealth is shown by the fact that Walker now boasts of two strong banks having 
resources reaching a half a million dollars, and with deposits steadily increasing. 
Its business men are enterprising and progressive. 

Regularly laid out. its streets lined with shade trei>s. bordering permanent walks 
and well kept lawns, the town pre.'^ents a i)retty appearance, and town officials 
and citizens seem to vie with each other in their efforts to maintain its reputation 
as being one of the prettiest towns in the I'ounty. 

MAINE TOWNSHIP 

We are indebted to a loyal citizen of the county for the following historical 
sketch of one of the finest districts in the county — Maine township. Dr. Ward 
Woodbridge ha.s treated sympathetically the early days in and around Central 
City. He long has lived there, has been a potent factor in the development of 
his community, and knows whereof he speaks. 

Maine township geographically is located in the northeast comer of Linn 
county, being in the second row of townships from both the north and east. 

Its shape is an irregular triangle, containing forty-seven square miles, making 
it one-third larger than the average township. This is due to an early arrange- 
ment whereby a (lortion of Buffalo township became a part of Maine. The Wapsie 
river divides Buffalo township nearly in the middle. In its early history the 
larger number of people resided south of the river, as there were no bridges 
in those days, and the river held a high stage of water, making it difficult to 
cross. The.se people finally asked to be attached to Maine township for admin- 



282 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

istrative purposes, and all that portion of Buii'alo on the south side of the river 
was made a part of Maine, and has never been restored. 

The Wapsie river runs along the northeastern border of Maine, and is the 
dividing line between it and Buffalo. 

Along the river, and from one to three miles in ^vidth on either side, the land 
is somewhat hilly, sandy, and has been heavily timbered. When the more level 
country is reached it becomes a gently undulating plain, rich black loam and very 
productive. 

As we turn in retrospect, seeing its growth and development, we can see the 
work of the hardy and determined pioneers on every hand. It was they who blazed 
the way. It was they who built this Appian way of progress. It was their 
devotion and privation, patiently endured, that have caused not two, but myriads 
of blades of grass to grow where hitherto the one blade was trampled under foot 
by the roving Indian and buffalo, and although their forms have vanished and 
their voices are stilled, and the hands roughened by honest toil lie quiet, yet their 
work lives after them. They left that imprint on both descendants and admin- 
istration which makes of the ]Maine township citizenship today a sturdy, hard- 
headed class, whose public opinion always crystallizes on the side of righteousness, 
of truth and justice. Its people never have to apologize for their course. 

Probably the first white settler was John Jenkins, who came in 1838 and settled 
on the farm adjoining Central City known as the Ormus Clark farm. In 1839 
Joseph Clark bought the farm of Jenkins, he being a son-in-law of Clark. It lies 
to the southwest of Central City, and a portion of it lies within the corporation. 
It is now owned by C. C. Crane. 

In the winters of 1838-1840 a few trappers wintered along the banks of the 
Wapsie, but the names of no permanent settlers are recorded. 

In the spring of 1840 two young men, natives of Maine, landed in Maine town- 
ship. They had left their state two years before and stopped at Peoria, Illinois, 
working there through the summer, and going south in the winter where they 
worked in the cotton yards of New Orleans. Returning from New Orleans in the 
spring of 1840 they bought three yoke of cattle, a big prairie plow, and what 
other necessaries they needed, and headed for the Mississippi river. Crossing 
it they drove on and on until arriving one evening at the place known as ' ' Jordan 's 
Grove" they camped for the night. The next morning they cooked breakfast, 
and while one of them went out to gather up the cattle, the other took his bearings, 
and when the cattle were brought up he had the plow out of the wagon. On 
inquiry from his partner as to what he was about he said, "This looks good to me. 
Hitch onto the plow." These two young men were L. D. Jordan and Ed McKin- 
ney. They broke enough to hold their claims, went to Dubuque and filed on them, 
returned, built cabins, went back to Maine and married sisters, returned and made 
homes, and ilr. Jordan lived his whole life on the spot where he unloaded the 
plow, dying there in 1890. McKinney moved from the neighborhood some years 
before his death. They both lived to be old men. 

In 1840 the Heaton family came, and P. A. and Will Heaton still live in Cen- 
tral City, together with two or three of the women of the family. 

In October, 1844, Chandler Jordan arrived at his brother's place. He re- 
mained all night, and in the morning got on a horse and rode north through the 
grove to the brow of the hill overlooking the Wapsie valley. 

It was beautiful Indian summer. All wa.s purple, yellow, and gold, and the 
blue-joint grass st«od as high as the back of his horse all the way down the valley. 
He gazed fascinated, rode slowly down the valley of a small creek that meandered 
from its source in the grove, to the river. In a level place on the bank of the 
creek he stopped, staked out a claim, returned, went to Dubuque and filed on it,, 
came back and began improvements. 



SOME TOWNSHIP HISTORY 283 

He broke the ground and raised cmps, and in the sjjring of 1847 built a cabin 
on the spot where he first dismoimtcd, and married Sarah D. Waterhouse in June. 
They went at once to the cabin and began housekeeping. Later they built more 
commodious quarters, and in 1860 erected the brick house in which they both died 
in 1909. 

Harvey Powell came in 1844 also, and entered a fine tract of land on the ridge 
west of Central City, where he lived to a good old age. 

In 1846 N. C. Gillilan came; Jennings Crawford in 1854, and the Haas family 
in the early fifties. 

About this time settlers began coming in so rapidly that honorable mention 
can not be made of all of them, even if they could be traced. It can readily be 
st-en that the earliest settlers coming from the state of Maine gave the name to 
the township. They were a sturdy lot of pioneers, determined to win success 
from their surroiuidings. They knew no such word as fail or can't. They knew 
no surcease from labor, but toiled on without nuiriuur or complaint. 

Markets were a long way off, Dubuque and Muscatine being the principal places 
where they sold their produce. It took four days to take a load to Dubuque and 
bring one back. They never made the trip with empty wagons. There were no 
bridges. The roads ran across the virgin prairie, and often, when sloughs were 
bad. they had to take off part of the load, drive through a l)ad place, imload what 
they had hauled over and return for the rest, thus delaying their journey. 

Finally tlie Northwestern road came to Cedar Rapids in 1859, and later a road 
to Marion and Springville, bringing, as they felt, markets to their very doors. 

They turned the virgin soil, sowed, reaped, mowed, and garnered the 
fruits of their lal)or year after year, early and late alike, working with the primi- 
tive tools of that day when most of the work was done by main strength instead 
of machinery. They formed from necessity those habits of saving every thing 
which, with many, later resulted in an abundance for the rainy day. These early 
privations, sturdy devotion to the work, with a fidelity well worth emulation has 
brought its rewards in one of the richest agricultural regions on earth. 

They saw the steady advancement of material things as a reward for their 
patient toil. They established schools and churches, overcoming as rapidly as 
possible the drawbacks and inconveniences of pioneer life. 

They made the way of the transgressor a hard one, and when law breakers and 
horse thieves escaped through some sharp practice, they took the law in their own 
hands and rid the country for all time of the horse thief and general law breaker, 
thereby putting a premium on honesty. 

The villages of Waubeek and Central City were established in the usual way. 
Blacksmith shops, stores, and post offices being a necessity, they were established 
on the banks of the Wapsie river, Central City on the north side of the river just 
at the north line <if the township, and Waubeek five miles southeast on the south 
bank of the river. 

Some dams were built across tlie river at l)oth places and saw mills established 
to saw lnml)er for tlie pioneer houses to displace the log cabin. These were fol- 
lowed by grist mills to make flour for the settlers, and for many years the mills at 
both places were run at their full capacity. Gradually wheat was abandoned as a 
produi't. and the people were able to buy a better grade of Hour than the home 
mills could make. They were allowed to run down and were neglected until 
finally the mill at Waubeek was allowed to fall in the river. The last vestige of 
its site is gone. 

The mill at Central City has nui until lately, grinding the feed for the farmers, 
but it. too. has quit, the wheel is still, and the busy scenes about its doors are but 
memories of its great convenience and usefulness to those it served so well. 

After years of quiet and peaceful pursuits the mutterings of civil war began 
to be heard. The lowering clouds portending the storm made the heart of many a 



284 HISTORY OF LIXX COUNTY 

pioneer mother beat with anxiety as she felt that if it came she must lay a son 
on the altar. 

Finally when the storm burst on the community Maine township was not 
backward in sending its quota of men. something like twenty of its best sons 
enlisting in the Twentieth Iowa, and others iu the Sixteenth, the Twenty-fourth, 
and other scattered regiments. 

"With improved market facilities and the high prices of war times the farmers 
rapidly accumulated a competence. 

The war over, the soldiers returned to peaceful pui-suits, the young men of 
other states began to hunt up locations, and many of them found their way to 
Maine township. 

Farms were rapidly opened up after 1865, and it was not many years luitil all 
the open prairie was turned, fenced, put to crops, homes built, and the whole face 
of the township changed to a busy, peaceful, and prosperous scene. 

In its early days there was little chance or opportunity for religious gatherings. 
It was difficult to find ministere to conduct funerals, and church services were a 
long way apart, both in meeting places and appointment. 

In 1854 a Methodist class was established at Central City, then called Clarks- 
ford. In 1856 the Jordan's Grove Baptist church was organized, and in 1858 
the Congregational church at Central City was established. 

In 1855 the village of Waubeek was laid out, and for many years was a fine 
trading point. Its stores, together with its mill, did a fine business. It has 
one of the finest store buildings in Linn county. 

In 1856 the village of Central City was surveyed, and the same year the dam 
was built across the river where it now stands. 

In 18SJ the Illinois Central railroad built a line from Manchester to Cedar 
Rapids, running it through Central City. This little city, exactly half way be- 
tween JIanchester and Cedar Rapids, at once began to grow as soon as it was certain 
the railroad would be built. 

This road was a great boon to the north part of Linn county, as before that 
Marion was its nearest market, and many had to haul their produce twenty miles 
to reach it. 

Central City now has six hundred people. It has fourteen business houses, 
three churches, a solid bank, a fine school doing full twelve-grade work. 

The post office is third class, with four rural rout«s. It is the distributing 
point for freight for all the surrounding country, with large hog, cattle, hay, 
and grain buying facilities. It has two lumber yards, and from 1,200 to 2,000 
tons of coal are shipped in here every year. 

The village of Waubeek has no railroad and has made no advance for the past 
twentj' years. It has four stores, post office, creamery, two churches, good schools 
and fine stone quarries. 

It is not necessary to enlarge on this history. It is doubtless a repetition of 
the history of many other townships, but we, its citizens, have a local pride in its 
beauty, its bounty, its prosperity, its boundless hospitality. No finer cattle, hogs, 
horses, sheep, and poultry can be found on the face of the earth than are raised 
in Maine township. The physical, moral, social, intellectual, and financial con- 
dition of the people is on a high plane, and shows a steady growth and development 
through all the years since the first settlement. Its people have laid aside the 
miserly habits made necessary by their early struggles, and there is literally 
nothing too good for them to have and enjoy. This prosperity is shown by the 
fine modern homes being built, or remodeled from tlie older ones, all over the 
township, with every modern convenience in the way of plumbing and heating, 
and furnished in the latest and best way. Commodious barns and outbuildings, 
tiling of wet places, and building of woven wire fences mark the advances of farm 
work, making every acre available for cultivation. 



SOME TOWNSHIP HISTORY • 285 

The bounteous crops, the high prices of all farm produce, the solid improve- 
ments l)eing made, the phenomenal price of land — and it is still soaring — all 
mark a prosperous, happy, and contented people, loyal, honest, industrious, hos- 
pitable, ready always to entertain the stranger within the gates. Farm life no 
longer carries with it the dreary isolation and monotony of early pioneer life. 
The work is done with modern machinery. Telephones exti^-nd to every home in 
the township. Rural delivery takes the mail each morning to their doors, and 
the latest literature is foiuid on their library tables. They are in touch with every 
phase of life. The women no longer spin and weave, and then sew and knit, but 
buy ready made the best that is manufactured. 

When the day 's work is done they come to town in their automobiles, the women 
gowned in the latest fashions, to enjoy an evening of social pleasure, engage in 
club work, society work, lodge work, and church work. The village of Waubeek 
has a ladies' improvement club, and they have built over a mile of fine cement 
sidewalk. 

As one rides over the great state of Iowa and sees its Hocks and herds, its fine 
homes, cities, towns, and villages, the bounteous crops, and notes the intelligence 
and contentment of its people, we are led with the red men of virgin days to 
exclaim " E-A-W.\II." the beautiful land, and no fairer spot can be found in its 
broad domain than Maine township, of which we are all proud to be residents and 
citizens. 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP 

Jackson township is in the north tier of towiiships. It is bounded on the 
north by Buchanan county, on the east by Boulder township, on the south by 
Maine and on the west by Spring Grove townships. It is well watered by tlie 
Wapsie river as well as by Buffalo creek, both of which streams traverse parts 
of the ground called for political purposes Jackson township. The township is 
largely settled by Americans whose ancestors located on these verdant prairies in 
the forties and fifties. The township is supposed to have been named by David 
Sutton, in honor of his patron saint Andrew Jackson. James Lytle came from 
Indiana and took up a claim here in 1841. He brought his wife who was a daugh- 
ter of David Sutton, who located here in Januarj*, 1843, with a wife and nine 
children. The first white child bom in the township was Frances, a daughter 
of .Mr. and Mrs. James Lytle. Sam W. Justice came in 1845 and erected a house on 
ground where now is the town of Paris, which was staked out on the south bank of 
the \Va]isie river on what is now sections 19 and 20, township 8G, range 6. Sam 
Chamberlain opened the first store and established quite a trade, which later was 
shared by Rob. C. Powell, who erected a more complete store building and pro- 
vided more pretentious quarters where he was besides store keeper the first post- 
master. Dan McCrcllis and Anos Bond located on lands on which this embrvo 
town was started. Dave Long also saw fit to stop here in search of a home as 
early as 1848. 

Mi.s.s Pethenia Gray taught the first school about a half a mile west of Paris 
in 1850. The first religious siT\'ices were conducted l>y R<'V. Little at the home 
of Sam Justin. Ja.s. Nugent settled in section 12 in the northejistern part of 
the county in 1847 at what for many years was known as Nugent 's Grove. Mr. 
Nugent was for many years justice, whool director, township trustee, and hi-ld 
other oflices. He wa.s a leader of the re])Mblicjin party for many years and well 
Iniuwn over flic county. He dii-d a number of years ai.'o, the widow passing away 
at an advanced age in the fall of 1!ll(t. S. D. Mills settled here with his family 
in 185.'{. followed the following spring by F. M. Philips who came from Illinois, 
but returned again and pennanently l(H-ated in the i-i>unty thn-e years later. The 
years from 1854-1857 were the most active in the matter of land pureha.se in this 
township. In 1854 came Wm. Henderson of Seoteh des<'ent from ('jinadn with 



286 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

his family and located on lands a little to the west of the present town of Coggon. 
A large number of the descendants of this family are still large property o«-ners 
and respected and enterprising citizens of this township. E. L. Ware, Henry 
Thorp, G. C. Edgerly and many others purchased lands and settled here during 
these years. John Bruce in 1858 during the hard times had the courage to erect 
a stone grist mill on Buffalo creek at the present site of Coggon and this property 
later came into the possession of Amos Green who operated the mill till 1876, when 
he erected a frame structure. This mill was much appreciated by the settlers and 
it was a busy place for many years. Up till the time of the Illinois Central rail- 
way extension in 1887, the place was known as Green's Mill, later called Nugent, 
after the postoffice, and then named Coggon. The first store at Green's Mill was 
run by John Bruce, who ran this in connection with his mill. The advent of rail- 
roads brought up the price of lands, markets were offered for grain and rents at 
once advanced and since that time the growth has been steady and healthful till 
Jackson towsnhip is not excelled by any other community in the state. 

LINN TOWNSHIP 

Linn to^^-nship, in the southeastern part of the county, on account of its loca- 
tion was early settled by L. M. Kepler of Indiana, and G. A. Yeisley of Pennsyl- 
vania, who came here as early as 1837. By 1840 a large number had located in 
the township, such as J. C. Goudy, Dan McCall, Isaac Kyle and Oliver Clark who 
had emigrated from Ohio, Benj. Hoover, Alex Torrance, Jas. Vamer, who had 
come from Pennsylvania; Chancy Neal, Geo. House, William Perkins and others 
from the eastern states. Sam Ellison had come from Ireland, and J. W. Walton 
from England. The descendants of manj' of these early settlers are still residents 
of the county, the owners of large farms, and of much personal property. 

It was not until 1852-1857 that settlers came in any large numbers from the 
eastern states. Then nearly all the vacant lands which had not gotten into the 
hands of speculators were for the most part taken up and improved. Linn town- 
ship was on the so-called Anamosa-Iowa City road, as well as on the Marion- 
Muscatine road, two of the early highways. 

The township cannot boast of any towns with the exception of Paralta, which 
is only a junction point of the ililwaukee system. The residents trade at Mt. 
Vernon and Lisbon. 

In this township can be found many descendants of the early settlers and even 
a few of the original pioneers. The Yeisley, Needles, Clark, Neal, Biissenbark, 
Ink, Leigh, Filloon, Ellison, Beechley, Chamberlain, Stinger, Paul, Remington, 
Lacock, Stewart, Goudy, Boxwell, Kearns, Ballard, Travis, and other well known 
early families are still owners of valuable farms within the confines of the old 
township borders. 

OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP 

Otter Creek township, containing thirty-six sections, situated nearly in the 
center of Linn county-, has been considered one of the best farming commmiities 
in Iowa for years. The soil is excellent and there has always been plenty of 
water in the streams for cattle, which also affords good draina^re for tiling pur- 
poses. During the last ten years nearly every acre of unproductive land lias 
been reclaimed by a thorough system of drainage, so that now Otter Creek land 
sells at the top notch. 

The first settler was William Chamberlain, who located in what later became 
Monroe township, in 1838. He is the father of the famous Chamberlain family 
who have made a fortune out of the patent medicine business in Des Moines. 
The children of William and Rachel Chamberlain were Davis and Lowell, and 



SOME TOWNSHIP HISTORY 287 

four daughters named Mrs. Mar>' Snyder, Mrs. Laura Weeks, Mrs. Lucy A. 
Taylor, and Isnnna L. Chamberlain. 

Other early settlers might be mentioned as follows: John Coehran, George 
Cochran, Alexander Xevin, James Hemphill, William Ward, Nate Reynolds, who 
came in the early '40s. Caleb Ilendrix came, it is thought, in 1838. Of him, it 
is said by John Lanning, that old Caleb used to say that he made a claim and 
spread his tent on what became Cedar Rapids, but that a lot of bloodthirsty and 
ferocious Indians camped on the other side of the river and by their acts and 
grimaces and the noise they made Caleb sized up the situation that this was a case 
where it would be better to be a live coward than a dead hero and he pulled up 
stakes and removed further north, going to a number of places before he settled 
in Otter Creek township, where he linally decided to make his homo. Mr. Ilcn- 
drix married a daughter of James Hemphill in 1845 and for many years was a 
pillar in the Methodist church and an enthusiastic Sunday school worker. 

Among other early settlers might be mentioned Perry Oliphant and his wife 
Susanna, as well as his sons Silas, Edward, John, William, and Henry, and his 
daughters Lizzie, Mary, and Rillar. These came in 1839 or 1840. Another of 
the old. well respected families who came here in the early '40s was the Neigh- 
bors. John Nevins erected the first saw mill in 1845 near what later became the 
village of Lafayette. This mill was later owned by John Yambert, James Greene, 
and A. Brenamnn, still later it came into the possession of Fred Notebohn, who 
added a grist mill, and when the water gave out it was run by steam. 

Other of the old settlers were James Wallace, Alfred Thomas, William and 
Samuel Fleming, the Mounces. Seversons, Fences, Fishels, Browns, Fees. Jack- 
mans, Taylors, Chesmores, Flollenbecks, Andrews, JIartins, Metcalfs, and many 
others. 

One of the first stores kept was in the fall of 1847 when Morris Neighbor" 
opened a small place in what was known as Shingle Town. This name, it is 
said, came about for the reason that clapboards were made in this vicinity. 

John Carr, having married Neighbor's sister, also lived here for some time. 
The postoffice for Otter Creek township was moved around among the old set- 
tlers from time to time and was kept, of course, in the farm houses. William 
Hunt seems to have been the first postmaster. The office was afterwards removed 
and the postmastership held by Perry Oliphant, and later again removed, with 
Richard Lanning in charge. During the Civil war the postoffice was conducted 
by Yambert, Policy, and Moller. It was around the postoffice and coimtry store 
that politics were discussed and news of the neighborhood commented upon, and 
it was also here that the pioneer settlers became acquainted and friendships were 
fonned which continued through life. For this reason, no doubt, the country 
postoffice and the coimtry .store did much in an early day to lessen tlie hardships 
in pioneer life. 

Otter Creek township was early visited by itinerary ministers, and as early 
as 1853 a Christian church was organized. William Kalb, John Yambert, and 
others being some of the first evangelical preachers in this part of the county. 
One of the first county meetings of this church was held at the home of George 
Cochran as early as 18.")D. The Evanirelical church was later organized in this 
town.ship and .some of the early ministers in this denomination were Rev. Bor- 
chart, Rev. Maerz, Rev. Gerhart, Rev. MajTic, Rev. Brecher. 

COLLEGE TOWNSHIP 

College township is situated in the southern tier of townships in the coiuity. 
the southern boundarj- being the county line between Joiinson and Tiinn counties, 
wliile on the east and west respectively are Fairfax and Putnam townships. 
College township is well watered and well drained by several water courses, the 



288 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

principal ones being the Cedar river, Hoosier creek, and Prairie creek. It 
contains no towns of any size but most of its traffic is now conducted by tha 
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City electric line running from Cedar Rapids to Iowa 
City. Much of the cream, milk and other products of the farm are shipped daily 
over this line to Cedar Rapids ; since the construction of this line land in College 
township has gone up in price and the bautiful farm houses, magnificent and well 
tilled fields speak well for the population of this part of the county. 

Some of the old settlers of College township are the following: Isaac Smith, 
Phillip Smith, Dr. J. H. Smith, James Smith, and others of the Smith family 
who came here in the early '50s. During the next few years came John Lagore, 
Joseph Custer, Jacob Inbody, the Garnett family, Thomas Philipson, Horn, 
Henry Rogers, Fritz family, James Snyder, W. F. Minor, Joshua Minor, Sara 
Minor, the Bakers, and many others. 

One of the first Baptist churches was erected at Rogers Grove, and a large 
number of the early settlers in this coramimity belonged to that denomination. 

SPRING GROVE TOWNSHIP 

BY A. W. FISHER 

Spring Grove township is situated in the northern tier of townships in Linn 
county. It is bordered on the north by Newton township, Buchanan county, on 
the east by Jackson, on the south by Otter Creek, and on the west by Grant. The 
land is generally an undulating prairie excepting a strip about two miles wide 
beginning at the northwest comer of the township in .section six, and extend- 
ing in a southeasterly direction to section twenty-four on the east side of the 
township, through which the Wapsipinieon river flows. The land near the river 
on both sides is not only hilly, but consists of a light sandy soil, and was almost 
covered with a heavy growth of timber in the early pioneer days. Back from the 
river about one mile the land is prairie and has a deep black loam. 

The early settlements of Spring Grove township were connected with the 
settlements in the neighboring townships, and divided themselves into three) 
groups. The fir.st one was on the north side of the Wapsipinieon river, while 
another settlement was made in the southeastern part of the township in what is 
called West Prairie, and the third settlement was in the western part of the 
township. The earliest settlers located along the Wapsipinieon river where the 
soil is of a poorer quality than it was on the open prairie. The reason for their 
choice was to secure timber for their buildings and for fuel. In a few eases the 
settlers were grouped around springs that furnished them with water. 

Game was abundant in those days and this helped the pioneer during the 
long cold winters. Large herds of deer were often seen along the timber near 
the river and on the prairies. Wolves were too plentiful to suit the settler as 
they prowled around his cabin during the night and carried off poultry whenever 
the chance offered. Panthers were rarely seen but were too numerous for the 
more timid in those days. Often cattle and hogs were missing and their loss 
was attributed to the work of the panther. The early settlers of Spring Grove 
township did not escape the discomforts of the average pioneer. Their houses 
were, at the best, rudely constructed of logs, and the stoves used in those days 
were very poor. Many of the old settlers have informed me that their coffee, 
when they were luclrv enough to secure it. was often frozen after being placed 
on the breakfast table. 

The first settlement was on the north side of the Wa|isipinicon river around 
two springs. One of them was in a grove in Newton township, Buchanan 
county, and the other one a short distance southeast in a grove in our township. 
To distinguish them the early pioneers called them the I'pper and Lower Spring 




A VIEW OF CEDAR RAPIDS FROM TIIK ISLAND 




RAILROAD YARDS AT CKDAR RAPIDS 



SOME TOWNSHIP HISTORY 289 

Grove. The name of Spring Grove then came in general use for the entire 
settlement and was adopted by our settlers as the name of their township. 

The first settler in Spring Grove township was Leonard Austin, who with his 
family settled in section one of our township in the spring of 1S45, and erected 
the first building from rough unhewn logs taken from the timber surrounding 
his building site. Mr. Austin was followed by A. J. Ward, who with his family 
settled near Mr. Austin during the fall of that year. Two years later, in 1847, 
Josiah Walton and Rev. Wm. Phillips settled as near neighbors to these hardy 
pioneers. These were soon followed by the Reeces, Ilolmans, Longs, McPikes, 
Pcytons, Carsons, Whisenands, McKees, Fays, and Waltons, who settled in the 
northern part of our township and in the southern part of Newton township in 
Buchanan county, and who are remembered as the early pioneers. 

The early settlers of the southeastern part of the township were the Bices, 
Andersons, Saxtons, Leathermans, Plummcrs, Swaims, Frank Dorr, E. B. Fisher, 
Buragardners, Benedicts. McBurneys, Nutting. Carpenters, and Jordans. These 
settlers formed part of a settlement that extended into Jackson township. They 
located there during the early part of the '50s. About the same time the western 
part of the township south of the Wapsipinieon river was settled. Those early 
settlers were Edwin JctTreys, A. G. Kibbe, Elmer and J. E. Atwood, father and 
son, Chas. Cook and sons. Edwin. Enos, George, and Charles, and George Park- 
hurst. All these early pioneers took an active part in helping to develop the new 
countn,'. 

In regard to religious worship the people of Spring Grove may be likened 
to the Puritans of the early colonial period, as among the earliest settlers came 
Rev. Wm. Phillips, a minister of the gospel who at first conducted meetings in 
his own home, and later became a "circuit rider," holding meetings every Sun- 
day either in some private house or in a school house. The Christian organiza- 
tion that is now at Troy Mills was organized by Henry Holman during the summer 
of 1853 in John W^ McKee's house near what is now Troy Mills. Mr. Holman 
preached the first sermon and continued as pastor until the organization was 
strong enough to secure a minister to take charge of the work. Isaac Holman, 
now a resident of Troy Mills, and a son of Henry Holman, was the first superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school organized in the township. Rev. N. A. MeConnell, 
of Marion, was one of the ablest ministers of the early period, and would face 
the worst storms of the season in order to keep his appointment. The people 
living in the southeastern part of the township at first held services in private 
houses until the West Prairie school house was erected, where for several years 
they had a place for worship. They now have a splendid church near the West 
Prairie school house. 

The first justice of the peace of Spring Grove township was John Plummer, 
but the best knowii justices of the peace of the early times were Elmer Atwood, 
Josiah Walton, and Wm. Bleakley. W'hile the people of those days were not free 
from strife among themselves, yet they were obliged to band together to free 
themselves from a worse evil — tlie horse thief. The people finally with the help 
of the neighboring settlers took the law in their own hands and dealt summary 
justice to the ofTenders. One of these thieves was followed by a po.sse to his camp 
on the Buffalo creek in Buchanan county, and on his refusal to surrender he was 
shot to death. This put a stop to the stealing. 

In polities the people of Spring Grove always took an active part, and for a 
long time claimed to be the l)anner republiciin precinct of the stite. During the 
Civil war the republicans of West Prairie eroctod a flag pole on the bare prairie 
near where now stands the West Prairie chunh and raised the Stars and 
Stripes aloft and kept the Hag there until long after the war closed. At one 
election during the Civil war not a democratic vote wns cast. It was said that 



290 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

there were a few democrats in the to^vnship but they chose to stay at home 
rather than stand the jeers that were sure to assail them if they voted. " 

Troy Mills, the only \illage in the township, was founded in 1853, when a dam 
was built across the river at that place and a saw mill built. This mill con- 
tinued to run about ten years when the present mill was erected. The mill did 
a flourishing business grinding all kinds of grain, but of late years has only been 
used as a grist mill. Jordon Long brought the first stock of goods to Troy" Mills, 
amounting to ten doUars. Meeting with success in selling these, he turned all 
his attention to carrying on a general store which he conducted for more than forty 
years. Dr. John Dis and E. C. Downs started the first drug store in the town 
but soon sold out. E. N. Beach, one of the best known men in the northern 
part of Linn county, came to Troy ]\Iills at an early day and started a drug store 
and has conducted the same to the present time. Dr. E. Wilson was the only 
doctor in our township for several years and enjoyed a lucrative practice. The 
first blacksmith shop was started by Elmer and John E. Atwood in 1854, who 
conducted the same for nearly thirty years. 

Only a few of the old settlers remain who helped to transform the wilds into 
what it is today. Those now living here, who came in the early '50s, are David 
Reece, Isaac Holmau, John E. Attwood, ]\Irs. Edwin Jeffries, Isaac Bice. Enos and 
Charles Cook. The others have either moved away or passed into that great be- 
yond from which no traveler returns. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 

Washington township was early settled, for it is stated on good authority that 
Bartimus MeGonigle settled near what later became Center Point in 1839. Some 
of the early settlers were Dr. S. M. Brice, John Osbom, Tom Lockhart. W. A. 
Thomas, James Down, Sam Stewart, E. B. Spencer, Alex Nevin, D. S. Way, Milt 
Squires, W^ill Cress, Jacob Thomas, Robert Osborn, Jonathan Dennison, Alex 
Thomas, Jas. Chambers. These came as early as 1842, a number coming in 
in 1839 and 1840. The following came before 1846: Thos. Fee, Isaac Berry, 
J. L. Benham, Levi Martin. L. Hollenbeck. 

The town was laid out in 1848 by Andrew Bottorf. A re-sun'ey was later 
made as of 1854, and done bj- J. I\IeArthur for Dr. S. M. Brice and J. R. Grubb. 

Most of the buildings in the town date from the time of the second plat, 
when the place began to thrive in earnest. Dr. Brice ran a store which wa.s later 
sold to A. A. Adams. In 1855 Dr. J. F. Wilson opened a drug store. L. Hollen- 
beck also opened a general store in 1854. J. ]M. Bartleson, W. S. Bliss, and 
John Carr were also early settlers. Carr and Bartleson running a store for many 
years. 

The locality in and around Center Point, then, is one of the first settled in the 
county. The early settlers were enterprising and the newcomers were made 
welcome. No doubt the close proximity to the river and the abundance of timber 
in this localitj' made the place inviting to the new settlers who needed above 
everything else timber for use in building and for fuel. The railroad which the 
people had expected many years did not get into town till in 1873. and was con- 
tinued the following spring. For the purpose of securing this railroad Washing- 
ton township voted $16,000. being about a five per cent tax. 

In Wa.shington township lived and died many years ago Jolm Osbom, a 
revolutionarv soldier, who is buried in Center Point cemetery. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

Lisbon and the Vnited Brethren Church 

In mirrating the history of Linn touiity mention must be made of that body 
of devoti'd men and women who early laid the foundations of the United Breth- 
ren chun-h in this portion of what sixty years ago was the far west. The 
members of this ehristian body have had an important and eonspieuous part in 
the historj- of our eounty. Their leaders have not only been men of piety, but 
they have also lieen men of ability, builders of eommonwealths. Their work has 
been of a permanent character, and the descendants of these pioneer people are 
today doing prandly the work so nobly begun seventy years ago. 

We cannot do better here than to quote largely from the Historical Souvenir 
of the Church of the Unitcil Brethren in Christ at Lisbon, Iowa, 1836-1904, by 
Rev. Cyrus J. Kephart, published in 1904 by the Lisbon Herald: 

THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH IN IOWA 

The work of the United Brethren in Christ in Iowa began, as far as known, 
with the labors of Rev. Christian Troup, a member of the Wabash Conference, 
who came to Iowa as a missionary in 1836,* and settled upon what is now a 
part of the site of Blount Vernon. He afterwards traded his 160 acre claim for 
a yoke of oxen, and settled near the Cedar river, on what is now known as the 
Horn farm. Here he passed through all tlie privations of a frontier life. His 
daughter, Mrs. Pate, states that for a considerable time he and his family ground 
the corn for their bread on an old-fashioned cotVee mill nailed to the side of a tree. 

Rev. Troup's field as a missionary- extended from the city of Dubuqiie to 
Henry county. His preaching places were wherever he could find an opportunity 
to speak to the people. Thus he sowed the seed that afterward ripened into 
many an active Christian life. 

One of his appointments was near Ivanhoe, in a log house of only two rooms. 
Here standing in the low doorway he would speak first to those gathered in one 
room, then stoo|'ing, for he was a tall man. he would pass his head into the other 
room and speak to those there. 

He died in ISoO and was buried in the cemeterj' that then occupied the lot 
wiicrc the house of Mrs. Mary Hoover now stands in Lisbon. When the cemetery 
was changed his remains were removed to the present Lisbon cemetery. 

In 1838 Rev. John Bums, a local preacher, settled in I^ee county, and begfin 
preaching at various points. Rev. Christian Troup and he seem to have been the 
pioneers of the United Brethren in Christ in Iowa. 

The first siM-iety was organized at the home of "Father" Edington. probably 
somewhere in Henry county, in October. 1841. This, however, was several years 
after Christian Troup began his work in the community in which Lisbon now 
stands. 

The first United Brethren iiuarU^-rly conference west of the Missi.ssippi was 
held at the home of Mr. Gibson near the present site of Lisbon, May 10, 1842. 
It was attendeil by Christian Troup, F. R. S. Byrd. Ira B. Ryan, Lewis HofTman, 

* This is nrporilinc to I^awroncp '» hislnrj', Bnd in harmony with statonn-nts from Dr. .\. W. 
Uniry. Mrs. Elizabeth Uarnvr, daughtpr of Bro. Tronp. snys he eamf to Iowa in 18.1S. 



292 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"Father" Edington, and others. Ira B. Ryan was licensed to preach, and 
Christian Troup was chosen presiding elder. 

Another similar meeting was held in Henry county on September 10th of the 
same year. Considerable annual conference business was transacted at this 
meeting. 

A third meeting of the same character was held, probably in the southern 
part of the state in March, 1843, there being present a presiding elder of the 
Wabash Conference, of the territory of which Iowa at that time was a part. At 
this meeting there were reported thirteen organized societies, with one hundred 
and ninety-four members in Iowa. 

The first annual conference of the United Brethren in Iowa, and the first 
west of the Mississippi, convened at Columbus City, May 19, 1844, Bishop Henry 
Kumler, Jr., presiding. It was called the Iowa Branch of the Wabash Confer- 
ence. 

The next annual conference convened at the home of Wm. Thompson, in 
Louisa county, August 14, 1845, Bishop John Russell, presiding. At this session 
the Iowa conference was formally organized. 

Other early conferences were held as follows : 

At Columbus City, Augxist 31, 1846, Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, presiding. 

At the home of Wm. Thompson, Louisa county, August 24, 1847, Bishop Wm. 
Hanby, presiding. 

At the home of John Shively, Henry county, September 1, 1848, Bishop Wm. 
Hanby, presiding. 

At the Hershey school house near Lisbon, August 23, 1849, Bishop David Ed- 
wards, presiding. 

During these years the preachers in charge of the territory including Lisbon 
were : 

1843-44 John Peters. 

1844-45 Christian Troup. 

1845-47 J. W. Sterling. 

1847-48 Luther McVay. 

1848-49 Luther McVay, with John DeMoss, assistant. 

Writing of the Iowa conference of 1845, Bishop Russell said: "Myself and 
wife left the state of Maryland in a carriage for Iowa. A tedious journey in- 
deed. All went well until we got between the two rivers — Mississippi and Iowa. 
In the high prairie grass our trail ran out, and of course we were lost. Plow to 
get on the right course was the trouble. 

"I went before, parting the grass, which was much higher than myself. 
After I had gone a certain distance, I put my hat on my cane to guide my wife 
to the spot. Thus I continued for some time till we got right again." 

THE UNITED BRETHREN AT LISBON 

Our life and work at Lisbon date back to the faithful labors of Rev. Christian 
Troup, who began preaching in this vicinity a.s early as 1836. Hence the church 
at Lisbon had its beginning with the very beginning of our church in Iowa. 

The work here grew slowly, however, for several years, Bro. Troup often ad- 
vising his converts to join other chiu'ches on aceoimt of the weakness of the 
United Brethren in Iowa. 

In 1847 Rev. Christian Hershey led quite a large colony, chiefly his own rela- 
tives, from Pennsylvania to Iowa, and settled in Yankee Grove, the section of 
country surrounding where Lisbon now stands. 

This colony, being largely composed of United Brethren, made quite an 
addition to the United Brethren forces of this vicinity. 



LISBON AND THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 293 

In August (if the same year Rov. Luther McVay was appointed t« the Yankee 
Grove circuit. During the summer of 1848 he held a camp-meeting on the knoll 
now occupied by the Wiuihington school building of Lisbon, with good results. 
He then organized "the United Brethren class in the Pennsylvania Settlement 
of Linn county, Iowa," with a charter membership of about forty, as nearly as 
can be determined from the original chuss book. About twelve names were after- 
ward added, the year closing with a memlKTship fif ^y'2. The elTccting of an 
organization wius strongly opposed by many of the older persons who took an 
active part in the camji-meeting; not because of opposition to the church, but 
feeling that it was not right to formally organize and put the names on a class 
book. 

Of these charter members, two are yet members of the church, Mr. Michael 
Blessing, and Mrs. Nancy Neidig. 

On August 23, 1849. the Iowa annual conference was held here. Lisbon had 
just been platted, and homes were scarce. To meet the difficulty occasioned by 
the coming of so many ministers, a camp-meeting was planned; tents were built 
on the camp ground, and the conference was held in connection with the camp- 
meeting. There were a number of conversions, and at the close of the camp-meet- 
ing twenty-five persons were baptized in the Cedar river near Ivanhoe, by Rev. 
Josiah Lindsey. 

Kev. Christian Ilershey and Rev. D. Wenrich were received into the confer- 
ence at this session upon their transfers. Rev. John De Moss, assistant pastor of 
Yankee Grove circuit, reported $26.55 received as salary and presents for the year. 

The Lisbon class proper, at first called North Yankee Grove class, was organ- 
ized September 5, 1850, l>y Rev. S. W. Kern, pastor. The original record shows 
36 members of this class, many of whom belonged to the "United Brethren Class 
in the Pennsylvania Settlement in Linn county, Iowa," and several were new 
members. That there existed some difficulty in connection with the work at 
this place at that time is manifest from the following from Rev. D. Wenrich in 
an article in the Telescope relative to the conference session of 1850: "On ac- 
count of a peculiar state of things on Yankee Grove circuit it was asked that a 
good disciplinarian be appointed to the charge. The selection of Rev. S. W. Kern 
and the adjustment of the difficulty proved the wisdom of the choice." Just 
what the difficulty was. whether it was among members of the church of a personal 
character, or whether it was something in connection with the administration of 
the aff'airs of the church, there is no record to show. 

The annual conference of 1852 chose Lisbon as the place of meeting for the 
next annual session. Rev. Christian Ilershey, who had been in an important 
sense the father of the Lisbon' church, looked forward to its coming with great 
expectations. "When the time arrived for making necessary local preparation, he 
joined most heartily in the work. After cleaning the church and putting every- 
thing in readiness, he proposed to a friend who was with him to go into the church 
and off'er prayer for the conference. lie was in great joy. But on August 3d, 
the day before the assembling of conference, very suddenly the death angel called, 
and Father Ilershey passed away. His death cast a gloom over the entire ses- 
sion. Rev. George Miller was cho.^en to preach the funeral sermon. The con- 
ference in a body marched before his cor])Ee to the church and to the grave. His 
remains were buried in the cemetery beside the church and afterwards were 
removed to the present Lisbon cemetery, where they now rest. 

The crrowfh of the church followine the year 1840 was quite rapid. But it 
is impossible to determine what the total membership has lieen, on account of the 
mutilation of the early records. So far as we can learn the number of 
persons received between 1840 and 1870 was fully five hundred. Since 1870 the 
accessions have been quite numerous. A number of very successful revivals have 
been held. From 1870 to the present time, as nearly as can be determined, the 



294 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

number of accessions has been about 790, thus showing a membership of nearly 
1,300 since the organization of the church in 1849. 

The Lisbon charge has been favored with a number of most excellent pastors. 
So far as the records show, the largest increase of membership was during the 
pastorate of Rev. William Cunningham. During his service of eighteen months 
there were eighty-four additions to the church. 

Among those who have assisted largely to the development and growth of the 
church, the following seem to deserve special mention : Christian Hershey, Jlich- 
ael Hoover, St., D. Runkle, Jolin Xeidig, Jacob Kettering. A. A. Sweet, Samuel 
Long, John Eby, Lawrence Easterly, J. E. Kurtz. D. Dorwart, Henry Jleyers, 
John Ringer, Sr., Elias Hahn, D. Buck, John Turner, George Graul, D. G. Zeigen- 
fus, Thomas Runkle, C. H. Neidig, Abram Runkle, Adam Runkle, Amos Runkle, 
W. S. Furnas, Elizabeth Perry, Nancy Neidig, Sr., Mother Bressler, Anna Bitzer 
and Elizabeth N. Runkle. The list could be greatly enlarged with perfect 
truthfulness. But these are among the number who seem to have stood out with 
special prominence in the work of the church. 

We would make special mention of Rev. S. E. Long. Rev. A. B. Statton, and 
Rev. M. S. Runkle, who were raised as members of our church and have gone into 
the ministry of the gospel. 

Also Mrs. G. K. Little, daughter of Bro. J. Bittinger. whose sweet voice and 
loving life are living epistles for Christ, greatly assisting in the evangelistic work 
of her husband. Rev. G. K. Little, who for years was a faithful member here. 

Rev. L L. Buchwalter and his devoted wife, who have made Lisbon their home 
since he retired from the active ministry, have been active and liberal in their 
devotion to the interests and work of the church. 

CHURCH BUILDINGS 

In 1850 Rev. Christian Hershey built in Lisbon, chiefly at his own expense, 
the First United Brethren church west of the Mississippi river. This church, 
which still stands just north of ilrs. Marj- Hoover's residence, was .soon out- 
grown. In 1855 it was sold, and the proceeds were used in building the second 
church on the site occupied by the present edifice. This building served the 
church for twenty-six years. 

During the pastorate of Rev. T. D. Adams and the early part of the first 
pastorate of Rev. I. K. Statton. the need of a more modem church became appar- 
ent. At the session of the quarterly conference on April 7, 1880, the first official 
steps were taken toward the erection of a new building. During the following 
summer the old church was torn down, and the present structure begun. It was 
completed at a cost of $9,200.00, and on January 23, 1881, was dedicated by 
Bishop IMilton Wright. Great credit is due to the ever earnest and faithful 
labors of the pastor. Dr. I. K. Statton. 

During the building of the new church, the congregation was favored in being 
granted the use of the Methodist Episcopal church for all its services. 

PARSONAGES 

The church during its historj' has o\\Tied three parsonages. The present 
building is an elegant frame stinicture of eight rooms, furnished with furnace, 
electric light, and city water. It was purchased during the summer of 1903 for 
$2,400, the old one being sold for $1,000. 

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 

The Sunday school was organized early in the history of the Lisbon church, 
probably in the spring of 1853. It was first conducted as a union school, and so 



LISBON AND THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 295 

continued for a number of years, its development into a United Brethren school 
being the result ehietly of the ortfanization of other sehools in town. 

At the first it \va.s divided into male and female departments, with five male 
and seven female elas.ses; amoii^ them were one female luid two male Hpelling 
classes, and one female infant class. Among the first si-holars were Henry C. 
Kurtz, and Solomon Kettering, who are yet living. The record of 1854 shows 
three infant classes, one male ami two female. In the male class were two of our 
present members, Henry C. Meyers, and Jacob E. Meyers, with their father 
Henry Meyers as teacher. 

The tii-st secretary's record that is preserved begins with .Inly. 1857. The 
enrt)llment was 1:21, the attendance 118. The supcrinteiulciit wius A. A. Sweet. 
May 27, 1860, is named as "the first day of the administration of B. [Benjamin] 
Hoover as superintendent, to which office he was elected last night." Other 
evidence states that Adam Kunkle had served as superintendent one; year before 
this election. Following this the record shows nothing as to who was superin- 
tendent till April 2. 1865, when it states, "Had our annual election last evening 
for officers. Adam Runkle was re-elected superintendent, D. Dorwart, secretary, 
D. Buck, librarian." I. Scoles is the first secretary named, his election occur- 
ring May 2, 1858. The next named following him is J. E. Kurtz, who served a 
number of years, his term of office terminating with the election of D. Dorwart 
as above noted. 

The enrollment did not increase rapidly, owing in part no doubt to the organ- 
izing of other schools. On Januarj' 1, 1860, it was 144; on January 6, 1861, 145, 
with 140 in attendance. 

The record from 1857 to 1865 is rendered quite interesting by the recital of 
current events of the town and community. A few are here quoted: 

July 26. 1857. "A stranger bathing last Sabbath in the Cedar river was 
drowned. Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy." 

December 15. 1857. "Officers and teachers agreed to have a teachers' meet- 
ing monthly." 

April 11. 185!t. "The Lutheran church organized a Sunday school in the old 
church today." 

July 9, 1859. "The school was opened at eight o'clock on account of the 
Methodist quarterly meeting in this house at nine o'clock." 

November 6. 1859. "Small attendance on account of wedding in town, Mr. 
Joel Ringer and Miss Barbara Kurtz." 

Julv 29. 1860. "Bishop Glossbrenner was here vest*rdav, and went to 
Western." 

September 9. 1860. "We hear for the first time two bells ringing in to\vn." 

October 28. 1860. "Mrs. Easterly married to David Zeigenfus. " 

November 11. I860. "Old Abe ejected." 

September 21. 1861. "Yesterday great military demonstration; young men 
leaving for the army." 

November 1, 1863. "Yesterday all the liquor destroyed by the sheriff. " 

November 29, 1863. "No school in consequence of the Evangelical dedica- 
tion." 

January 16, 1865. "Large school, as both schools are united." "Both 
schools" seems tn refer to our own and a Sunday school conducted for a short 
time by the Presbyterians. Enrollment 129; attendance 166. 

April 16. 1865. "Our church was draped in memory of the death of our late 
President. Abraham Lincoln." 

May 7. 1865, "The Missionary Board met with us. Bishops Edward*, 
Markwood. and Kumlcr. and Revs. S. VonNeida and J. W. Shucy were present." 

Reference is frequently made to deaths that fx-curred in town. The burial 
of several soldiers is not<'d. The secretaries of later years recorded but little 



296 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

of such general events. The record of June 6, 1880, says: "On account of 
tearing down the church, school met in M. E. church at 2:00 p. m. " On May 
26, 1878, I. K. Statton, :Mrs. T. D. Adams, J. Bittinger, Amos Runkle and wife 
and Miss Sue Fletcher were appointed delegates to the township and the county 
conventions. 

The superintendents have been A. A. Sweet, Benjamin Hoover, Adam Runkle, 
J. Bittinger, W. H. Runkle, J. S. Smith, U. D. Runkle, and the present incum- 
bent, Amos K. Runkle, who has served the school continuously for sixteen years, 
and has just been reelected. 

The Woman's Jlissionary Association of the United Brethren church of Lis- 
bon, was organized October 27, 1878, with the direction and assistance of Mrs. 
A. L. Billheimer. Mrs. T. D. Adams was appointed temporary secretary. The 
following ofHcers were elected: Mrs. Mary Shaler, president; Mrs. A. K. Runkle, 
vice president; Mrs. Addie Eby, secretary'; Mrs. Lizzie A. Runkle, treasurer; 
solicitors: Mrs. E. N. Runkle, Mrs. Holderman, Mrs. Nancy Neidig, Miss Maggie 
Houfier, Mrs. Katie Kurtz. 

The first regular meeting was held at the parsonage and was opened by de- 
votional exercises by Mrs. Charlotte Davis (wife of Rev. Wm. Davis). 

LISBON CAMP-MEETING 

The earliest camp-meeting of our church in this vicinity, as far as can be 
learned, was held in 1848 on the site of the present school building. It was 
followed by the second in 1849, and a third in 1852. Similar meetings were held 
at various times and places for several years. 

At a quarterly conference held July 7, 1879, a camp-meeting committee waa 
appointed, consisting of Rev. T. D. Adams, and brothers J. Bittinger, D. Runkle, 
C. H. Neidig, A. E. Kurtz, A. K. Runkle, George Rupert, Sr., and J. S. Smith. 
The committee organized on July 11, electing Rev. T. D. Adams, president, and 
Rev. I. K. Statton, secretary. A plot of ground of about twenty-five acres, lying 
one and one-fourth miles southeast of Lisbon was purchased, and a camp-meeting 
planned to begin on August 26 following. At this time the temporary organiza- 
tion was succeeded by a permanent one, with Rev. T. D. Adams, president, and 
J. Bittinger, secretary. On September 3d, the grounds were dedicated by Bishop 
Milton Wright, Rev. T. D. Adams, Pastor, Rev. I. K. Statton, presiding elder, and 
a number of other ministers assisting. 

The ground was a nicely wooded tract, with two good springs, and was fitted 
up with a number of neat cottages, a boarding house, chapel, speakers' stand, and 
seats, and was enclosed with a substantial fence. Among the prominent men 
who at different times took part in the meetings were. Bishops Weaver, Kephart, 
Hott, Mills, and Wright, President W. M. Beardshear, and Dr. J. W. Etter. 
Interesting meetings were held each summer up to and including 1893. Some 
hindrance at length arose, and at the annual meeting held on August 27, 1894, 
the association voted to sell the grounds and disorganize. 

LIST OF PASTORS. YANKEE GROVE CIRCUIT AND LISBON STATION 

1843-44 John Peters 1855-56 J. B. Wells 1870-74 Wm. Davis 

1843-44 Christian Troup 1856-58 Martin Bowman 1874-75 S. Sutton 

1845-57 J.W.Sterling 1858-59 George ]Miller 1875-76 Wm. Davis 

1847-49 Luther McVay 1859-60 Jonathan Wynn 1876-79 T. D. Adams 

1848-49 Luther Me Vty 1860-61 John Goodin 1879-83 I. K. Statton 

John DeMoss, Asst, 1861-62 A. Shes.sler 1883-85 Wm. Cunningham 

1849-50 J. S. Brown 1862-63 Martin Bowman 1885-88 R. E. Williams 

1850-52 S. W. Kern 1863-65 John Curts 1888-92 C. K. Westfall 




FATHER FLYNN, CEDAR RAPIDS 



LISBON AND THE UNITED BRF^TIIKEN CHURCH 29 



>it 



1865-66 John Manning 


1892-95 


V. A. Carlton 


18(;G-67 John Carta 


1895-99 


I. K. Statton 


1867-68 T. Brashear 


1899-03 


W. I. Beattv 


1868-70 H. B. Potter 


1903 


C. J. Kei)han 



1852-53 F. R. S. Byrd 
1853-54 Jacob Newman 
1854-55 Daniel Riinkle 
Jacob Miller. Asst. 

SESSIONS OF IOWA CONFERENCE HELD AT LISBON 

1849 Bishop David Edwards, presiding 1869 Bishop J. Dickinson, presiding 

1853 Bishop L. Davis, presiding 1872 Bishop J. Dickinson, presiding 

1856 Bishop L. Davis, presiding 1878 Bishop M. Wright, presiding 

1862 Bishop J. Markwood, presiding 1883 Bishop J. Weaver, presiding 

1865 Bishop J. Markwood, presiding 1888 Bishop J. Dickinson, presiding 

1867 Rev. D. K. Flickinger, presiding in 1892 Bishop J. Dickinson, presiding 

place of Bishop Markwood, absent 1899 Bishop N. Castle, presidinc 



CHAPTER XXXV 

County and District Politics 

It has been stated that the first election in the county was held at Westport 
in 1838 when thirt>--two votes were cast in the coimty. This is said to have 
been the most quiet election on record. Gradually the people located claims, as 
more lands were thrown open to settlement, and politics began to cut a figTire 
at an early date. While many of the settlers came from the south, a majority, 
however, came from Ohio, from the middle states, and from New England. Thus 
it would appear that the population of Iowa was a part of the free state move- 
ment which had peopled the central states. The foreign population did not come 
to Iowa imtil the early '50s, when the Germans, Scandinavians, Scotch, and 
Irish came in large numbers to take up the cheap lands which were offered to the 
settlers. 

The early settlers were for the most part democrats, with a sprinkling of whigs 
and abolitionists. Some of these voted for Taylor for president in 1844, nearly 
all of whom supported Fremont later. 

Thus in BrowTi township Ed Crow, Horace Brown, and the Butlers were dem- 
ocrats, while the Plummers, Yocums, Hamptons, Stanleys, and Dewees families 
were originally whigs, who joined the republican party^ in 1856. In Franklin 
township the members of the United Brethren church in and around Lisbon, and 
the Methodists aroimd Mount Vernon were stanch abolitionists, joining the 
republican party when that was formed. Around Bertram a large number 
affiliated with the democratic party, which was true of the settlers in and around 
Center Point. In the northern part of the county, James Nugent, A. C. Coquil- 
lette, Joe Whitney. Peter Henderson, and many others were republicans, or joined 
the party later. In I\Iaine township the Jordan families were divided in politics, 
some belonging to one party, others to another. These men were a sturdy lot 
of pioneers and did much in a political and financial way to build up the county. 

In Rapids township and Cedar Rapids, many of the old settlers were dem- 
ocrats, such as N. B. Brown, D. JI. Mcintosh, the Biyan boys, E. R. Derby, 
William Harper, the Weares, J. J. Snouffer, Hart brothers, and many others. 
Judge Greene was one of the most prominent democrats who joined the republican 
ranks in the Greeley campaign. The Weares joined the republican party dnring 
the Civil war period. Some of the prominent republicans of an early day were 
E. N. Bates, the Carrolls, Elys, Leaches, Higleys, J. S. and T. Z. Cook, Isaac 
Cook, Dr. S. D. Carpenter, Dr. E. L. Mansfield, Gabriel Carpenter. 

In Marion township, which was then and for many j^ears afterwards the 
political center of the county, the whigs, who later became republicans, were such 
men as N. M. Hubbard, R. D. Stephens, Joseph Young, William Cook, William G. 
Thompson, James E. Bromwell, William Smythe, Robert Smythe, Robert Holmes, 
the Herveys. and the Daniels family. 

Among the democrats were such prominent men as Colonel I. M. Preston, 
S. H. Tryon, S. W. Durham. H. W. Gray, Dr. T. S. Bardwell, T. J. McKean, 
J. C. Barry, James Green, L. M. Strong, C. T. Williams, and James Brown. 

During the territorial days Robert Lucas was a democrat, while John Cham- 
bers was a whig, succeeded by James Clarke, another democrat. During these 
early territorial days Linn county cut ver>' little figure in the affaii's of the newly 
organized territory, as the river counties had most of the settlers and otherwise 



COUNTY AND DISTRICT POLITICS 299 

controlled political .affairs in general, hi the first assembly which met at Bur- 
linjirtou, November 11, 1838, this county wa-s represented by Charles Whittelsy 
in the council, and by Robert (J. Kobcrt.s in the house. The district then was com- 
posed of Cediir, Joluiscm. .I()nes, and Linn counties. 

The second iu^scinbly met at the same jilace Xovcmber 4, 1839, this district 
beins represented in the council by Charles Whittelsy, and by Oeorge II. Wal- 
worth in the house. The district this year was composed of Cedar, Jones, and 
Linn counties. 

The third iussembly convened at Burlington November 2, 1840, and now, for 
the tirst time. Linn county wa.s represented in the coinicil by a resident of the 
coiuity. in the person of George' Greene. In the house sat George II. Walworth 
and II. Van Antwerp. 

The fourth a.s.sembly convened at the newly selected eapitfll at Iowa City, and 
in the council or upper house sat again (Jeorge Greene, and in the house were 
ThonuLs Iligginson and Thoma.s Denson. 

In the fifth sisscmblj- sat J. P. Cook in the council and George II. Walworth 
and J. C. Barrj' in the house, the latter being a resident of Linn county. 

In the sixth jussembly sat J. P. Cook in the council, George H. Walworth and 
Robert Smythe in the house, Smythe being a resident of the coimty. For niiiny 
years he was a ])rominent politician in Iowa, and sat in the lower and upper 
houses for many years. 

In the seventh assembly, which convened at Iowa City in May, 1845, sat 
William Abbe in the council, and Joe K. Snyder and John Taylor in the house. 
William Abbe was the first actual settler in the county and one of the best known 
persons in easteni Iowa in early days. Mr. Abbe also sat in the assembly which 
met at Iowa City in December, 1S45. 

Linn county was also represented by able men in the constitutional conven- 
tions, and no doubt the members from this county did much in the adoption of 
our constitution. In the first constitutional convention whi('h convened October 
7, 1844, there sat as members from this county the follo\Nnng persons: T. J. 
McKean, L. M. Strong, and S. W. Durham, all democrat.s. This convention 
numbered fifty-three democrats and seventeen whigs. In the second constitu- 
tional convention, which met at the seat of government May 4, 1856, Linn and 
Benton counties were represented by Socrates H. Tryon, of Marion. In this 
convention, which was smaller than the first, the party vote stood twenty dem- 
ocnit.snnd ten whigs. 

In the third constitutional convention, which met Jiinuary ID, 1S57, there sat 
H. W. Gray, nf Clarion, as a member of the convention, and Ellsworth \. Bates, 
of Cedar Rapids, as jussistant secretary-, a young man of brilliant parts. 

The first governor of tlie newly made state. Ansel Briggs, was a democrat, as 
was Stephen Hempsti'ad, his 8uc<;es.sor. James W. Grimes, who had located at 
Burlington in 18.3fi, wjls nominated for the office of governor at the whig con- 
vention in 1854, and made a memorable canvass. His well known anti-slaverj- 
views rendered him acceptable t4) all who were opposed to the extension of that 
institution. Wliile many conser\'ative whigs agreed with the demcK'rats on the 
slavery issue, still all classes who favored free soil united in the support of 
Grimes, who wa-s favorably known and had been a member of the legislature, and 
who had made a favorable impression upon the new settlers who had come into 
the state to find homes. Grimes was elected, and this wa.s the first defeat of the 
democrats .since Iowa was organized as a territor}'. 

In January-, 1856, Governor Grimes wrote the call for the convention, which 
met at Iowa City on Febnmrj' 22d, which founded the republican party. In this 
convention there sat a number of Linn county persons who later became noted 
men in the party, and well known in the state. 



300 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The first presidential vote in Iowa was in the election in 1848, when Cass, the 
regular democratic nominee, received 12,083 votes, Taylor, whig, 11,084 votes, 
and iMartin Van Buren, free soil democrat, 1,126 votes. In the election of 1852, 
which was quite exciting all over the country, and not least in Iowa, the popular 
votes for president were as follows: Franklin Pierce, democrat, 17,763, Winfield 
Scott, whig, 15.856, John P. Hale, free democracy, 1,704 votes. This vote would 
indicate that the democratic party still held the balance of power in the state, 
but the change in old party lines was apparent. 

During the years up to 1856, a large number of pioneers had come into the 
state from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan, as well as from the New 
England states, and bitter party feeling ran high. [Many of the party leaders 
took the stump, and speeches were made in nearly all these settlements. News- 
papers were established and an active campaign brought about. Politics was the 
topic of conversation at the country store, at the grist-mill, and at the country 
postoffiees, and everyone felt that a change along party lines would be apparent. 
The vote in Iowa for president in 1856 was: John C. Fremont, republican, 
43,954, James Buchanan, democrat, 36,170, Millard Fillmore, i\jnerican party, 
9,180. James W. Grimes, the candidate for governor on the Fremont ticket, was 
re-elected. 

In this campaign the question of slavery was the main issue, and on this ground 
the newly organized republican party carried the day in Iowa. Iowa from 
this time was lost to the democrats, and they were unable to regain the lost 
ground by attempting to get away from the slavery issue. During the summer 
and fall of 1860 the campaign surpassed even the excitable campaign of four 
years previous. At the fall election Lincoln received 70,409 votes, S. A. Doug- 
las, democrat, 55,111 votes, John Bell, 17,763 votes. J. C. Breckenridge, the 
regular democratic nominee, who aimed to carry slavery into the territory' at 
any cost, received in this state only 1,048. The Douglas wing of the party 
"aimed to throw the responsibility of the slavery question upon the supreme 
court or upon the territories, or anywhere else, except upon the democratic party. " 
Douglas had many admirers in this county, and he visited, in this campaign, 
Marion and Cedar Rapids, where people flocked to hear him. many of whom 
admired him, but there were few who could support his visionary schemes and 
many who doubted the outcome of his dubious platform. This year the republi- 
can state ticket received on an average a plurality of 13,670 votes. In this 
election the state had become one of the solid republican states, and has so 
continued. In the state campaign of 1861 S. J. Kirkwood carried the state in an 
exciting campaign over "William H. Merritt, the regular democratic nominee. 
Mr. Merritt had become a resident of this county, and hence received a large vote 
in his old home. Kirkwood had won over A. C. Dodge by a ma,iority of 3,000 
two years ])ofore. and was a popular candidate, a man of many strong traits of 
character. The Civil war was on and the people felt that they must sustain the 
policies of the party in power, and hence, perhaps, the popularity of the prospect- 
ive candidates cut but little figure. 

During one of these campaigns as Perry Oxle.y and Ambrose Harlan were 
seated discussing politics at the county seat one day, Harlan in his wrath accused 
Oxley of being a traitor to the government. This was too much for the irate 
Kentuclsy-born democrat, and he knocked Harlan down with a savage blow 
aimed at the fellow's head. There was a trial for assault and battery, to which 
Oxley pleaded guilty, and later Harlan brought an action for damages in the 
district court, which damages were paid pro-rata by the democrats over the 
county. Col. I. M. Preston defended Oxley and the outcome of the verdict in fact 
made the issues for the next campaign. 

At commencement exercises at Mt. Vernon a general free-for-all fight occurred 
on account of some girls wearing copper-head pins. This matter also came into 




I'lHi.U AND COMMKRCIAL HllLDIMiS IN CKDAH RAPIDS. I'.iKI 



St. Luke's l^ospital 
Security Savings Bank 
Mercy flospital 
Intenor Liornry 



Masonic Temple 
Masonic Library and Annex 
Second Avenue Bridge 
Hiyh School 
F'ublic Library 



COUNTY AND DISTRICT POLITICS 301 

the courts, and county politics at least changed conditions, as party feelings ran 
high, and perhaps tlie ultimate motives of party politics were lost sight of, in these 
hand to hand contests waged near at home. 

During the early days Joel Leverich was a prominent political character in 
Linn county. He was called the "Bogus Coon," as it was claimed that he 
belonged to a gang of counterfeiters. However true that may be, no one knows, 
as he called himself a fellow who could make counterfeit money whi(;li would 
pass muster even in the land office. Leverich was a bright and intelligent person 
and wielded a great deal of influence as a sort of ward heeler before wards were 
organized in an early day, and it was fn-quently stated "that as .Joel Leverich 
went, so went the county." Joel was not perhaps as interested in the political 
views of the candidates as he was in getting pay for his services and in having a 
promise of a pull with the officers if elected. 

Bill Brody also wielded more or less influence in an early day in the county, 
and sometimes lined up with one party and sometimes with another. It wna 
generally true, that if Leverieh and his followers were all on one side, Brody and 
his companions would generally be opposed, and it was very seldom that both 
gangs were enlisted to work for the same political party in any one campaign. 

At one time just preceding a county election, memliers of the two gangs met 
at tlie Joshua Glover saloon in Marion. All had been drinking, and it was not 
long until the street was full of people, there being fifteen to twenty on a side all 
engaged in a general free-for-all fight. No one tried to interfere, and blood flowed 
freely. While Bill Brody was the leader and perhaps the most active, his chum 
and follower, Barrj' Way, was the most powerful fighter, and is said to have 
cleaned out the entire gang and won the day. His political party was in power 
for a day at least. 

Wiiile there was much disorder, and trouble arose on account of lack of en- 
forcement of law and order, it would be apparent that if men were elected to 
office by the assistance and help of men of this type it was not surprising to 
hear that officials could not, or would not always carry out the provisions of the 
law. Ambrose Harlan, well known in an early day as a person who had nerve 
and considerable fight in him, came out as a candidate for sheriff on a platform 
all his own, claiming that "he would catch horse thieves, and would even serve 
a warrant on Bill Brody himself, leader of the notorious gang," referred to in 
these pages. 

Harlan became an imaginary hero in the eyes of the people, and was elected 
by a large majority. For a long time after he had assumed the duties of his 
office there did not seem to be anything doing in his particular line. In fact 
the sheriff's office was the most deserted place at the county seat. It resembled 
a summer resort in winter time, and Harlan was about to resign for want of 
anything to do, for if there was anything Harlan loved it was a fight to a finish 
or a wordy cont<»st with a political opponent. As sheriff there was nothing to do 
in either line, for people seemed for once to mind their own business. 

At last, one morning a warrant was brought to the sheriff to be served on 
Brody, who had been charged with grand larceny of a team of horses. Harlan's 
moment had come, and he prided himself on the fact that he would lodge Brody 
in jail before the next sim set. A few inquiries were made, and Brody was lo- 
cated in the Way cabin, some five or six miles east of Vinton. At Vinton Harlan 
organized a posse and started early next morning to catch the culprit before he 
would leave for the day. 

They surrounded the cabin, Harlan fearing that the fellows had already es 
caped, but he ascertained that the smoke issuing from the cabin was only an 
indication that Mrs. Way was getting breakfast ready. He found Bill Brody 
and his chum Barr>- Way in bed. He was not long in making his errand known, 
and Brody replied. "Do you want me naked or will you give me time t<> put on 



302 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

my duds?" To which Harlan replied that as it was still early and he had all day, 
he would wait till the fellows dressed. The men took considerable time in 
arranging their morning toilet, saying to one another that it might be a long time 
before they would get back, and that the trial court could do nothing without 
their presence, so there was no hurry. Harlan sat on a home-made rickety chair 
in one corner of the room, with a gun in his left hand and a hickory stick in 
the other, watching the two culprits, and recalling the old refrain. "Weep no mo' 
me lady," as he watched the poor mother Way walking about the room with 
tears in her eyes, wondering what her wajnvard son had been up to this time. 
Harlan kept special watch on Way, who was the athlete, not fearing Brody, who 
was a small person. As Harlan looked out at the tiny window to detect a certain 
noise he heard, Brody, nimble as a cat, was at his side in an instant. He wrung 
the hickory sapling out of the sheriff's hands and struck him a savage blow on the 
head so that the Linn county official was "dead to the world" for at least thirty 
minutes. The crowd outside were in hiding near a straw stack, and when they 
.saw the two desperadoes come out of the cabin alone without any sheriff following, 
they took to their horses and rode away as fast as they could, never looking aroimd 
till the town of Vinton was in sight. 

When the sheriff realized what had happened, he was invited to breakfast by 
Mrs. Way, who said it might be a long time before her boarders would return. 
The sheriff would not accept the invitation, but asked instead for bandages for 
his head. 

Harlan was asked on his return to the county seat, minus his prisoner, ' ' Why 
didn't you take Bill when you had him?" Harlan replied, "How could I, when 
J had a giui in one hand and a hickory stick in the other, which he took away and 
rapped me over the head with, and when I came to my senses he wasn't there." 

It was needless to say, that at the next election no one cared to enter the race 
on a strictly horse thief catching platform. 

One of the most remarkable political contests ever waged in the county was 
that of N. M. Hubbard and William Smythe for congress in 1868. Hubbard had 
been a sort of political dictator since the organization of the republican party. 
He had held the office of county .judge for a short time, and had been appointed 
attorney for the Northwestern railwa.y, and for this reason was a powerful factor 
in financial as well as in political circles. Hubbard was quarrelsome, imperti- 
nent, and out-spoken, and used to say, that he "loved a nigger more than he did 
a democrat." In his aspirations for office he was backed by many friends and 
admirers, such as the Weares, Elys, Carrolls, and Pligleys in Cedar Rapids, and 
by most of the prominent Marion men. such as the Herveys, the Daniels families. 
Captain Rathbun, IMajor Thompson, and Bob Holmes. 

The people of ilarion were bitter against Hubbard, especially R. D. Steph- 
ens, who had been Hubbard's partner for some time, which pai'tnership ended 
in a row. the last formal dissolution of the partnership being to the effect that 
Hubbard said to Stephens that "he would not attend his funeral," to which the 
partner replied, "neither will I attend yours or ever darken your threshhold in 
any capacity." 

Stephens by this time was a financial factor in the county and had many 
friends. It was thought that he should make the run against Hubbard, who had 
removed to Cedar Rapids, but the leaders of this faction of the party thought 
that a candidatt> must be selected who had been in the war, and thus the oppon- 
ents of Hubbard selected William Smythe. who was a brother-in-law of Stephens, 
as the logical candidate to make the race. Smythe was an Irishman who had been 
an officer in the Civil war; was an eminent lawyer, a most affable gentleman, 
who had made a reputation for himself as a conservative and safe political leader. 

In this canva.ss Sm.-si^he was also backed by Robert Smythe. an older brother, 
who had been in the legislature, and was favorably known throughout the coiuitj*. 



COUNTY AND DISTRICT POLITICS 303 

Stephens was the financial backer and the organizer of the Sinythe faction. He 
was far-sighted, wielded considerable political and social influence, and used 
his money freely in this campaign to get even with Hubbard, if for no other 
reason. In this fight Stephens enlisted the service of a numlier of prominent 
democrats who were unfriendly to Hubbard. Kveryone expected that Hubbard 
would win hands down, and i-arry Cedar Kai)ids and many of the county pre- 
cincts. Smythe enlisted in his cause such men as Colonel Preston. Dr. Thos. 
Bardwell. J. H. Preston, S. W. Durham, James Brown, and many other demo- 
crats who were on the inside of this movement to dethrone the republican county 
boss. Smythe carried Marion township much to the sur])ri.se of the local leaders 
who had thought up to that time that everything was e(X'ked and primed for 
Hubbard. 

The coimty went aliout half and half; both parties, of course, had expected 
a small majority. When the officers were selected and a contest came up to a 
show of hands, the convention stflod a tie. The old court hou.se was filled to over- 
flowing, and many wordy contests took place outside as well a.s inside of the old 
dingj' court room. 

The afternotm passed and neither side got ahead. Stephens was the active 
leader on the floor of the convention and knew more about parliamentary rules 
than anyone else. Still there weiv others in the convention on the Hubbard 
side who were no novices at the business of packing a convention. 

An agreement had been made that the winner should select his own delegates, 
and it was conceded that whoever carried the county would carry the district. 
Neither faction dared to adjourn, and so the fight was kept up on motions of 
one kind and another with voting now and then to ascertain if the members had 
changed. They all "stood pat," and it has since been suggested that this must 
have been the first time the word standpatter was used in a political sense. 

In the evening Dr. Thomas S. Bardwell moved about in the convention hall 
shaking hands with his professional brethren and others. He invited a stanch 
supporter of Hubbard from up the county, and a professional brother, into his 
postoffiee and into a back room where he lived. They got into conversation and 
Bardwell knew that the man wanted a little for his stomach's sake, for he had 
traveled a long ways that morning and had had nothing to eat all day. Bardwell 
fully agreed with the coimtry doctor that the air of a dingy court room was bad 
for the lungs, and that a life of that kind would certainly ruin the health of any 
man, however strong he might otherwise he. The country doctor took one and 
then another drink from the city man's private .supply, and the Marion man was 
not one of the kind that refused even to take a drink with bis country friend. 
The conversation moved much easier and more plea.sant after the first few drinks, 
and Bardwell. to show that he was a good fellow, l)rought out a variety i>f li(iuor, 
such as would have made the mouth of a true Kcntui-kian smack in anticipation. 
It was not long till the comitry practitioner forgot all about the convention and 
was "dead to the world." He was placed in the doctor's bed, the doors locked, 
and Bardwell hurried back to the court house, .sending a note to Stephens to 
the effect that he must put the vote at once. Stephens did not know whether 
Bardwell wa.s putting uj) a .scheme on him or not, but he was about at the end 
with his objfM-tions and thought he would try just another vote and risk <>verything 
on a demix'nit's advice. Stef)hens withdrew his motion then pending and called 
for a vote by ballot. The Hubbard faction was glad of this opportunity, and as 
there were no objwtions the .seesaw affair of balloting once more began. 

When the votes were counted it was fomid that the Hubbard faction was one 
short. They counti^d and re-counf<'<l. aiul made the air bine with dire threats, 
wondering who had sold out. but no ".Iuda.s" coidd be found. Fiiuilly it was 
discovered that the countrj- delegate afori'said was nii.s.sing. It was thought that 
he Imd gone home or had bo-n calli-d away on pn)fessional business, but suih was 



304 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

not the case. The aforesaid country delegate was not made aware of the real 
condition of things till the next morning when he awoke in the back room of the 
doctor's office wondering how he had gotten such fine quarters without any assist- 
ance from either side, as far as he knew. 

The convention went wild over Smythe's victory and the city of Marion, 
regardless of party, was caught in this wave of enthusiasm, and the only topic 
of conversation for a long time afterwards was "how William Smythe won the 
fight." 

The newspaper which gave the best write-up of this political contest^ and the 
paper which did more for Smythe than any other political organ in the county, 
was the Linn County Sigiial, edited by a nephew of S. W. Durham, by the name 
of "Williams. The editorial writers, however, were such men as Dr. Thos. Bard- 
well, James Brown, S. W. Durham, Colonel I. M. Preston, and Judge J. H. Pres- 
ton, who was just then beginning to learn the inside workings of polities. A 
tramp printer by the name of Tompkins came along some time before the con- 
vention occurred, out of money and out of work, and was emploj-ed on the paper. 
Tompkins looked and acted like a fool, but was in fact a genius. He could 
write better than the best of them, and knew shorthand as well. He reported 
the proceediugs of this unique convention, and it is stated by all, regardless of 
party affiliations, that this write-up was the best of any political write-up of any 
convention before or since. 

After Smythe had been duly nominated for congress, the democrats of Linn 
county refused to support the republican candidate any longer, as they were only 
acting in the capacity of beating Hubbard. William E. Leffingwell, of Clinton, 
one of the silver-tongued orators of the west and an eminent man in many ways, 
was selected as the standard bearer of the democratic party to oppose Smythe. 
As Hubbard and his friends knifed Smythe on account of the action taken by 
Smythe's followers in the county convention, there was hope that a democrat 
might be elected. The comity democrats challenged Smythe to a joint debate, 
hoping that he would refuse to debate with a person much his superior. But 
Smythe accepted the challenge and it was decided that there should be three 
joint debates in the county, at Center Point, Marion, and Cedar Rapids. The 
first joint debate was to be held at Center Point — a democratic stronghold — and 
Smythe and his followers drove over from Marion in large numbers, for they 
wanted to protect their candidate in case any trouble should arise. Leffingwell 
and his party also started from Marion, made up of the most influential demo- 
crats in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Dr. Bardwell, one of the leaders of the 
democracy, and who had laid out the Hubbard supporter at the time of the 
convention, sat in the back seat of the buggy with Leffingwell and carried the 
same kind of wet goods along on this evening and for the same purpose that the 
candidate should take something for his stomach's sake. This time Bardwell was 
in earnest and really wanted to instill into the candidate a little of the spirit 
which would brace him up to a greater effort. He did not figure that Leffingwell's 
only fault was his love for the bottle. When they arrived at Center Point more 
liquor was added, and when LeSiugwell sat in the stuffj^ room listening to 
Smytlie's opening arguments half an hour, the liquor took eft'ect. and he became 
so drimk that he could hardly stand up, and made a rambling sort of a speech 
a.s only one under the influence of liquor could make. Sm.\'the replied to the 
rambling remarks of his opponent in a most masterl.v way and in such a telling 
manner that even the democrats got disgusted with their own candidate, and the 
Marion contingent felt that hanging would have been too good for Doc Bardwell. 

This first meeting ended the joint debates Avith Leffingwell. Later in the fall 
the democrats secured another debater from southern Iowa in the person of 
Martin Van Buren Bennett, a rabid partisan and a fiery orator, who, perhaps, 
surpassed Smythe in oratory, but who failed to make any special gains for his 






p; 







COUNTY AND DISTRICT POLITICS 305 

party ns he was an outsider who dwelt on past history and did not confine 
himsk'lf to present conditions. 

The friends of Smythe were very active among the democrats within the 
county to obtain their support, knowing that a large number of republicans would 
bolt the ticket. It was told that a fellow democrat went to old man Ilickey in 
College township, an old Irishman and a stanch democrat, wanting him to vote 
for Smythe on the strength that he was boni in Ireland. Ilickcy replied, "What! 
ask me to vote for an Orangeman, let me tell ye, when an Irishman steals a pig 
he gives half of it to the priest; when an Orangeman steals a pig he takes the whole 
d — thing and gives the priest nathing. No, I'll vote for no Orangeman for any 
office, I tell ye." 

Smythe wa-s elected by a large majority and served until his death in 1870. 
Judge Smythe wa-s one of the ablest men in the county; he had been a delegate to 
the convention that nominated Lincoln for president, and in 1861 was appointed 
to negotiate a bond issued by the state to provide a war defense fund. lie was 
also a colonel in the 31st Iowa Infantry, and served in the field until December, 
1864. Had he lived no doubt he would have been one of the United States sen- 
ators from Iowa, and might have had the covet«l place so long occupied by 
James Harlan and William H. Allison. 

In the Greeley contest there was not very much activity in politics id the 
county, although a number who had previously affiliated with the democratic 
party joined the republican ranks. The Blaine campaign was one of the most 
bitter campaigns waged pro and con in the county. In this campaign Milo P. 
Smitli, of Linn, was the republican candidate for congress against Ben Frederick, 
democrat, of Marshall county, who won out against Smith on account of wrangling 
within the republican ranks. 

John T. Hamilton, in another exciting contest for congress, won out as a 
democrat against Geo. R. Struble, of Tama county, in 1800. Mr. Hamilton had 
served in the legislature for six years previously and had demonstrated his ability 
as an able and conservative legislator. He had many stanch supporters in the 
district and especially in Linn county, his home. Mr. Hamilton was defeated 
for re-election in 1892 by Robert G. Cousins, of Cedar county, who held the seat 
continually till he was succeeded by James W. Good, of Linn county, in the 
election of 1908. Mr. Good was re-elected in the fall of 1910. 

This article was not intended to deal with present politics, but with past 
politics, and so the various contests which have been waged since the Bryan 
campaign of 1896 will be left for other historians to chronicle. The politicians 
of an early day in Linn countj' were men of force and ability, who were interested 
in the material welfare of the people of the state. These men always took a 
leading part in even,- political and financial issue which arose, abhoring mere 
party differences brought about for personal objects by selfish persons. Both the 
leading parties jjossessed efficient leaders, who were fully competent to cope with 
tlie issues under consideration from time to time. These polifiial leaders were 
efficient stumj) speakers, strong political writers, financial backers and promoters 
of railroads and steamboat lines. Their knowledge of the affairs of county and 
state politics was luisurpa.ssed, and a-s mere orators they held large gatherings 
spellbound by their ma^riietic inthience. 

The politician of the old school was always a gentleman and would seldom 
descend to anything low or unprofessional in order to obtain a political victory 
over another. The instances cited in thes*^ pages are only the occasional outbreak 
of partv strife, or of selfi.sh desire for vengeance to satisfy some wTong, real or 
imaginarj-. Many of the party leaders in the county in ye olden times, regardless 
of party affiliations, were men of culture and education, conservative men, keen, 
shrewd, and capable, who battled manfully, loyally, and truthfully for the young 
state in it« trying days in the beipnnijig. Nothing is more instructive than to 



306 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

read the early laws which were passed and to meditate over the proceedingrs as 
found of three memorable constitutional conventions. These deliberations show 
the good sense of those who took part in debates, and while the discussions took a 
wide range, the members never lost sight of the constitutional limitations and 
of the legal status of the state to the federal government. 

Such men as Abbe, the Smythe brothers, E. N. Bates, Durham, Col. Preston, 
Judge Isbell, Strong, Grav, Kurtz, Col. Butler, Chandler Jordan. Squire Nugent, 
Squire Ure, Isaac Cook, Col. W. H. Merritt, Judge George Greene. Major :\I. A. 
Higley, and scores of other well laiown pioneers were an honor to any community 
and in their respective capacities wielded much influence in the county during 
the pioneer days. 




FATHER SVRDLIK, CEDAR RAPIDS 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

Cedar Rapids 

Cedar Rapids is not a new town. True, it has not been flourishing for cen- 
turies, like the old European cities, with histories which reach back several 
centuries, hut as cities and towns in the middle west are spoken of, it has a 
lenpthy history and one of more or less interest. Young as it is, Cedar Rapida 
has no definite chronicle as to who was the first actual settler. Dyer Usher 
claimed that he and a companion ^azed upon the beauty of its banks and admired 
the river at the upper falls as early as 1836. Osgood Shepherd maintained that 
he was the first actual settler, and that he opened a tavern here in 1837 or 1838. 
He, at least, sold his stiuatter right in the embr>-o town, and made the first 
property deal involving landed rights in what later became the city. J. Wilbert 
Stone, also known as Bill Stone and William Stone, was here a.s earlv as any white 
man. lie was bom in the state of Rhode Island about 1803, and emigrated to 
Iowa Territory in the early thirties. Stone was a well educated, quiet, and 
refined man, who possessed all the traits of a trader. He drifted into Davenport 
and Rock Island, and came to Westport some time after William Abbe. No 
doubt he came from Rockingham up along the river looking for a place to barter 
with Indians, and the few white men who might come along as hunters and 
trappers. He conducted a small trading post at Westport some time in 1837, 
but whether he was the first .storekeeper in the county is not known, as this 
honor has also been accorded to John Henrj-. Whether Henry bouglit Stone out 
or not is not certain, but this is true, that Stone disposed of his interests and 
removed ten miles by trail up to the lower rapids, at the bond in the Red Cedar 
river, where the large packing plant of the T. M. Sinclair Company now stands, 
and here laid out a s(|uatter town, which he called Columbus. This town site 
is supposed to have been staked out on the east side of the river. The time must 
have been in 1837. He quarreled with Shepherd, who either came about the 
same time, or closely followed Stone. Stone, being a quiet, peaceable person, 
still single, was compelled to cross the river and tjike up a claim on the west side. 
Robert Ellis assert-s that he found the first small hut on May 8, 1838. on what 
became Cedar Rapids, and that it was located on the east side near the packing 
plant, and was occupied by Philip Hull. Had Shepherd sold this cabin to Hull 
after having driven Stone across the river? That might be probable, as Shep- 
herd tried the .same dodge on Ellis a few months later when he was building a 
cabin on his claim on the west side of the river. In that in.stance Shepherd had 
a prospective purchaser who was willing to go into Ellis's .shack, and but for the 
nerve and presence of mind of Ellis, Shepherd might have succeeded. From 
Stone's daughter, still living, it would seem that Stone was the first actual st^- 
tler who came here to trade with the Indians, and the first to lay out the squatter 
town which later became Cedar Rai)ids. and that this plat or staking out was on 
the east and not the west side of the river, all of which would be natural as all 
the other squatter townas had been staked on the east side, and thus were betti>r 
defended from an attack of Indians or border rufTians. who were apt to congre- 
gate more frequently on the west side of the stream. 

Robert Ellis walked into the town and found Hull, and later Shepherd, lo- 
cated in a small cabin, which he called a tavern situated on the river bank mi 
what is now First avenue. Mr. Ellis also found at this time John Young, a 



308 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Seotchmau, Granger, Fisher, and another Scot by the name of Galloway. Shep- 
herd laid claim at that time to nearly all of the land on the east side of the river 
and especially the land adjoining the dam site and the slough now called Cedar 
lake. A few hunters and trappers came now and then and remained at the 
Shepherd cabin for days at a time and then would depart as quietly as they had 
entered the crude hotel on the river bank. It has been reported that Shepherd 
harbored border ruffians and it lias been said of him that while "he did not 
willingly steal, he had not scruples about harboring those who subsisted from that 
kind of traffic." So far as authentic records indicate, we have no written or 
reliable sources of information except hearsay, till Robert Ellis walked up the 
river and found the cabins of Hull and Shepherd on the east side of the river, 
which property rights were claimed bj' these parties as squatter owners. By 
this time Stone had removed to the west side of the river and had already erected 
a cabin. Being a single man he was not at home at all times, and thus might 
have been away at the time Ellis arrived. Ellis soon discovered from what 
Shepherd said as well as from what Stone had intimated, that these men were at 
outs, and the best way to keep peace was to have the river between them. EUis 
had been out in the world long enough not to mix in the quarrels of other men 
and to keep as close-mouthed as possible about the troubles between sworn 
enemies. They never a.ssociated after their quarrel. The daughter of Stone 
claims that her father told her many times tliat the reason he sold out and re- 
moved to the Iowa river bottom was on account of Shepherd's attitude and that 
of the members of his gang toward him. These men feared that Stone would 
inform on them and wanted him out of the way so long as he refused to become an 
associate of theirs or in any way to approve of their actions. 

It would seem plausible that in a community where so many were law violators 
and enemies of law and order a man like Stone would not be tolerated and the 
ruffians would do all in their power to get him out of the way by intimidation 
or otherwise. 

N. B. Bro\vn, from what we have been informed by N. E. Brown and others, 
must have passed through what became Cedar Rapids as early as 1839 but he did 
not locate here till the following year, when he first realized the full value of the 
falls and the feasibility of a plan to erect a suitable dam across the river which 
would furnish power to run saw and grist mills. Galloway, Young, Granger, 
0. S. Bowling, and a few others were here in the meantime, all holding down 
claims, but no one thought of any future city to be founded or of any valuable 
asset in the water power which had never been harnessed to machinery. Wliat 
appealed to them was the fact that the stream could be forded at this place, that 
the banks had plenty of timber, and that it was a sort of w^ay station for straggling 
Indian trappers and hunters. Mr. Brown was not a frontiersman but a mechanic, 
who was a trained miller and looked into the future and saw that the location 
was ideal. While he had but little money, he could see far enough ahead that 
here would be the logical point for mills. Mr. Brown interested George Greene, 
H. W. Gray. A. L. Roach, and S. II. Tryon. and they purchased from Osgood 
Shepherd an undivided three-foiu'ths interest for $3,000. The other one-fourth 
interest was lator sold by Shepherd to J. E. Sanford and Addison Daniels. Mr. 
Shepherd had notliing but a squatter claim to sell, but Brown and the others 
figured that it would be cheaper to buy him out than to make a fight on him. 
and so the bargain was made. From an old account book still in the possession 
of N. E. Brown, we cite the following: 

"August 4, 1841. Commenced surveying 'Rsipids City.' August 7, 2^^ 
days by N. B. Brown, same. S. Durham, same. J. W. Carson, li^ days G«o. 
Greene, same, A. Daniels, 2i/o days 0. Shepherd." 

This proves that after the squatter right was purchased from Shepherd, and 
the erabr\'o town was first named by Brown the actual work of sur\-eying was com- 



CEDAK HAIMDS IMi 

meni'ed in Aupust, 1841. All of the above named pei-Hons became later well 
knowTi in the county. Greene and Tryon were clerk.s of court about this time, 
Durham was the newly arrived surveyor, while Daniels became a merchant and 
prominent bu-sincs-s man. Sanford wa.s an attorney and the owner of much land 
in this county, but died early leaving his estsite to his widow and aged father, wlio 
resitlcd in Connecticut. It would seem that CiHlar Hajjids wtus first called 
Columbus, next Hapids City, and Hnally Cedar Rapids, taking its mime from 
the name of the river and the rapids which are formed here by the rock foun- 
dations in the river bed. 

Shepherd lingered around the [)laiT till the next year, when he found that 
there was nothing further in his line, and that be was not interested in comer 
lots or in any cnterprisi-s such as ap[)caled to Brown, David King, (Jreene, San- 
ford. Daniels, and many others. He disposed of all his remaining rights and left 
for Wis<'onsin with liis family. He wjis later killed in a railway accident 

John Young also disposed of his .squatter rights to Dr. J. R. Richey and J. W. 
Carson. These pun-ha.sers sold again to Brown the following year. 

J. L. Enos, a newspaper man, has the following to say of Shepherd, writing 
in 1866: "The crimes committed by Shepherd and bis gang were for years a 
con.stant annoyance. John Young and a man by the name of Granger were his 
immediate companions. The islands in the river, particularly the one above the 
dam, were usetl as places to conceal their plunder. A great many horses and 
much otlier property were stolen by them, and in many ca.ses they succeeded in 
hiding their booty. It is known that this gang stole at one time six hors&s, 
petting away with four of tluMn. Granger wa.s later caught in Chicago and tried 
for passing counterfeit money. lie was sent to the Alton prison for four years. 
Young, it is stated on reliable authority, was executed in a neighboring state, 
having been convicted of murder." 

To prove that there is more or less truth in the stories as written of Shepherd 
by Enos, Mr. Ellis says that shortly after he had located on his claim and while 
he was building a cabin so as to hold his land. Shepherd and .some stranger came 
along one day and Shepherd in.sisted that this was his claim and that Ellis should 
vacate as soon as he <M)uld, as there would be trouble in store for a newcomer who 
had the cheek tr> jump a claim of this kind. Ellis was much surpri.sed and could 
not believe that Shepherd, with whom he had stayed for a short time, would 
come at him with such luifounded accusations. He had heard of the trouble with 
Stone and knew from Hull that Shepherd was not a very good man. Hull 
seemed to be all right. Ellis made up his mind that in a game of bluff he would 
not take a back scat, and that be had not come all the way from Pennsylvania 
on foot for notliing. He got mad and then did not stop to count noses, but 
raised his ax and came towards Shepherd, saying in his most emphatic way that 
the claim was his and that some one would get killed before he gave it up. He 
said he had picked out and improved the land and by riirht owned it till such time 
as the government saw fit to throw it open for settlement. He then accused 
Shepherd of some of the things he had heard and ofl'ered to back it up by proof if 
he wanted it. He said further, "You have blufTed others out of their claims. 
but you can't bluff me. Yf>u get off my land or I shall be compelled to use 
my ax." Shepherd moved away and the stranger turned pale and was uncer- 
tain whether he sho\dd nni or stand there with his bands raised. He b;id never 
been in such a place before. Never again was Ellis molested, nor did Shepherd 
again refer to the unpleasant incident. 

It was later nunored that Shepherd for a consideration was to locate the 
stranger on a good claim. He fiffured that as Ellis had already a cabin par- 
tially built this would be a good chance to get a bit of money and he reasoned that 
a stranger in the country would soon give in. He hjid not figured on the fact 
that Ellis was "the bravest of the brave," when it came to a question of asserting 



310 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

his own rights, which he knew were just. Prom this little episode as to the 
character of Shepherd as displayed toward Ellis it would seem that Shepherd 
might have gone at Stone in the same manner in which he tried to treat Ellis, 
and by force and intimidation made him give up his claim. Shepherd's course 
while a citizen of Linn coimty was not an honorable one and few, if any, of his 
associates speak of him except in an unfavorable light. 

In April, 1839, arrived Joe and John Listebarger, who erected a small log 
house at what is now 818 North First street west and owned by Ferdinand 
Uebel. A younger brother, Isaac, arrived later the same summer. "William 
Knowles erected a house on what later became kno^vn as Mound Farm. John 
Stambaugh built a log house in what is now Bever Park, which later was disposed 
of to John Gr. Cole. The upper part of the west side was settled by Farnham 
Colby, who came shortly after Ellis had staked out his holdings. During the 
years 1838-39 came others, such as Thos. Gainor, Joel and James Leverich, P. W. 
Earle, and many others. It was iu July of this year that the family of Isaac 
Carroll arrived and located a little to the east of what is now Cedar Rapids. A 
son of Isaac Carroll, the Rev. George R. Carroll, writes as follows in his Pioneer 
Life : "I cannot now recall anything of importance on the way imtil we reached 
Linn Grove, where we found a few log cabins. In conversation with one of the 
women who occupied one of these primitive abodes we found that her language 
was so different from anything we had heard, that it left a decided impression 
on our minds and was a source of no little amusement to us children. Some of 
her peculiar expressions were by-words with us for many years. She seemed 
very cordial and ready as everybody was in welcoming newcomers, and she was 
quite communicative, although her accovuits were not always of the most en- 
couraging and inspiring character to the new arrivals. 

"It was in the afternoon of July 4th, 1839, when we reached the county seat 
and the only thing to mark the spot was a bower of bushes under which our 
nation 's birthdaj' had been celebrated in primitive style and in which, judging 
from hilarious demonstrations of two or three men that we met on the way, 
whiskey must have played a somewhat conspicuous part. A little at one side of 
the town L. M. Strong had a little cabin. I do not remember of having seen 
either the cabin or the tenants at the time but JMr. Strong was for many years! 
after a well known and highly honored citizen of this place. Passing on beyond 
Marion we crossed Indian creek about a mile north of the present crossings and 
where there was a beautiful crystal spring, near which was a little cabin occu- 
pied by jMr. James W. Bassett. From this point, turning in a southwesterly 
direction, we found our way by a dim track through the woods reaching, towards 
night, the little bark shanty of Ephraim T. Lewis, near where now stands the 
stone bam just south of the boulevard two miles west of JIarion. ilr. Lewis 
and his son-in-law, Nathaniel G. Niece, were there and gave us a most hearty 
welcome and most cordial invitation to share their hospitality over night, which 
we gladly accepted. 

"The next day we passed a half mile west to the little hut of Mr. Jewell, later 
occupied bj^ Barnet Lutz. Passing on sixty or eighty rods west of Mr. Jewell's 
through the tall grass we found Mr. A. B. Mason breaking up prairie on the higher 
gro\md just north of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway at a point 
forty or fiftj' rods west of the boulevard crossing at Kenwood. This, I think, was 
the first furrow plowed between Jlarion and Cedar Rapids. Passing Mr. Mason, 
we found ourselves in a few moments on the ground which was to be our future 
home. At a point of the ridge near the mound, which in later years has been 
extensively known as Judge Greene's Mound Farm, we pitched our tent, the little 
brook near by affording us water, and the grove close at hand furnishing wood 
and poles and bushes for the erection of a bower, which for a few days were to 
serve us as a kitchen and dining room." 



CEDAR RAPIDS 311 

In this cDinpauy came also IJ. F. and C. C. Cook, step-sons of Isa<ac Carroll, 
and Sarah Carroll, a st«p-daughti'r. There were also the followinR children: 
Isaac \V., George R., and Julia Carroll. 

Mr. Carroll, in his interesting reeollections of pioneer days, speaks of a number 
of people who at this time and in the next few years resided in and around Cedar 
Rapids, such as William Vineyard, who married Sarah Carroll, and various mem- 
bers of the l^ewis family, who arrived that .same fall.. James Fergu.son and his 
family, the Wearo family, William Stewart, A. Sines, Arvin Kennedy, Isaac and 
William Cook, memhers of the Ely families, Dr. J. W\ Tracr, J. F. Charles, tho 
Daniels familii's, and many others came a little later. 

Thus within a few years from the tinu» that Brown and others pun'hased the 
claims of Shepherd, the scene along the banks of the Red Cedar had changed from 
an Indian wilderness and a resort of border rutTians to a landsca|)e bearing all the 
evidences of a high degree of civilization. The old Indian burial grounds became 
the place of a Christian cemetery, and the pole tepees covered with lejives and 
skins were removed to make place for commodious log houses, erected by the whites. 
In a study of the beginnings in Cedar R<apids it has seemed to the writer that 
heretofore due amount of credit for his work has not been given to N. B. Brown, 
llis was indeed a constructive genius. He early interested him-self in and in 
many instances began busines.ses that gave employment to labor, the backbone of 
any thrifty community. His enterprises were not always successful ones, whose 
are? All of them, however, were bu.sy institutions for a time, and while they were 
going they gave employment to many people. It seemed to be the rule to send 
strangers in the city .seeking employment to Nick Brown if no one else had use for 
their services, thej' being told that Mr. Brown wa-s sure to give them something 
to do. 

And he always did as it was intimated he would do. 

His manufacturing industries were many and varied. He built and operated 
saw and flour mills, woollen and knitting factories, at one time conducting two 
saw mills in the city, one on each side of the Cedar. He also at one time ran a 
saw mill on Indian Creek, south of town. He built a starch factory at MeCloud's 
Run, and when this failed owing to the dismissal by his foreman of the only man 
who knew the secrets of the manufacture he converted the mill into a distillery, 
thus making a market for the com raised in the count>'. 

Some of his early account books are now in the po.ssession of his son, N. E. 
Brown. They show page after page of names of employes in his various manu- 
facturing enterprises. 

It is .s<'arcely possible at this date to give a proper estimate to the value of his 
services to the infiint city. Pioneers of the energj- and public spirit manifested 
by .Mr. Brown were inilced of great benefit to the community in which they 
wrought, and honor and credit ought to be extended accordingly. 

We are glad here to testify to the great worth of Mr. Brown along industrial 
lines in the pioneer days of our beautiful and prosperous Cedar Raj^ids. 

For the first few years the settlers got along as best they could. They had 
few if any luxuries. Dubuque and Muscatine were the nearest market.s. It re- 
quired from six to fourteen days to make the trip and frequently longer when the 
roads were bad and when fierce storms overtook the party. Robert Ellis built 
three flat boats in the winter of 1841 and took a cargo of wheat to Burlington, 
tradinc this for a cargo of flour which he delivered safely at New Orleans, in 
July of that year. He got back during the summer but did not make any money 
out of the enterprise and never atrain cared to try the experiment. Many years 
later he received a settlement with the Burlington firm which was hard pressed 
for money and could not pay for the 4,0(l() bushels be had delivered. So while 
he did not pet n fortune he perhaps came out even on this hazardous trip. 



312 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

While it Ls true this daring enterprise failed to make Robei-t Ellis a wealthy 
man it did stir people up to the possibility of river traffic and that of course helped. 
The venture was talked over and over time and again, flat boats were built now 
and then, and a little gi'ain shipped. Small steamers made Cedar Rapids in the 
early spring of the year, bringing a few groceries and notions, and taking away 
wheat, oats, pork, and a little corn. 

Artificial dams in the river were talked of but that was as far as it went. No 
one was able to have any pull with the legislatures. Robert Holmes, an old 
ilarion resident, had a grain house at Ivanhoe, and took cargoes of grain down the 
river in 1844. '46 and '51 ; Henry Thomson also ran a few flat boats on the river 
as far as St. Loius. 

In 1858 a body of enterprising young men had built the steamer "Cedar 
Rapids" at Beaver, Pennsylvania, at a cost of $20,0fX), the stockholders being 
Wm. and George Greene, J. P. Ely, H. G. Angle, L. Daniels & Co., and W. W. 
Smith. This steamer ran during much of the spring and summer and late into 
the fall, and did a big business. But within two years in an accident on the 
Mississippi river the "Cedar Rapids" ran into another steamer, litigation ensued, 
and the owners lost everj'thing they had made as well as the steamer. 

Thus ended the first big adventure of the Cedar Rapids spirit. In the same year 
another steamer, the "Black Ilawk," was built to nm up the river to Waterloo 
and for a time did fair business. This was owned by W. D. Watrous, J. J. Snouffer. 
W. W. Smith, J. Stanley, and several others. This steamboat was sold to the 
goverment dm-ing the war and used a.s a supply steamer on the Cumberland and 
Tennessee rivers. At one time X. B. Brown was the owner of the boat. Just as 
the people were demanding that another company be formed to invest in another 
steamer enterprise the railways came, and now these daring business men centered 
their efl^orts in developing railroads and won out, but not until after many 
struggles, and after many failures. The people of Linn county surveyed, planned, 
and talked about several lines before they could realize the benefits of any. 

The Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railway was organized in what is now 
Clinton on January 26, 1856, the first officers being Charles Walker, of Chicago, 
president, James Purdy, of Mansfield. Ohio, vice president, T. T. Davis, of Syra- 
cuse, New York, treasurer, R. H. Nolton, secretary, and ililo Smith, of Clinton 
county, engineer. Many Cedar Rapids residents put up money and notes to have 
the road come through the city. Most of the necessary means were put up by 
eastern capitalists and especially by John I. Blair, one of the most enterprising 
of the early railroad promoters in America. Mr. Blair was born in New Jersey 
in 1802 and passed away in 1892, one of the most noted men of this countrj'. 
He was at least in *an early day the owner of more miles of railways than any 
other man in the world, and had laid out more town sites and villages in Iowa 
and Nebraska than any other person in the west. It was John I. Blair who first 
saw the opportunity of making Cedar Rapids a center on account of its pro- 
gressive people, the water power, and other advantages which this practical, 
wide-awake railway man saw here, and which were lacking in other localities. 
In June, 1859, the road \vas completed to Cedar Rapids. Its coming was the 
most important event in the history of the city. It was the beginning of the end 
in the unique struggle for railways in Linn county, and marks an epoch in the 
history of the city. 

The road was extended west, and by 1862 the trains were running as far as 
Marshalltown. By 1867 the road was completed to the Missouri river. Both the 
Iowa and Nebraska and the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River railways have for 
many years been under one management and are now known as the Chicago and 
Northwestern Railway, which owns and operates nearly 8,000 miles of road with 
a capital stock of $130,121,838. 



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CEDAK KA1MI)8 313 

In IHti") I). \V. ('. liowley bofjan gradiuK t'')i' tlii« liiirliiigton, Cedar Rapids and 
Nortlicni Railway, wliifh was organized in Ti-dar Rapids. A separate comijany. 
known as tlie ("edar Valley Construetion Company, was ortianized to Imild fhi.s 
line to Waterloo. This eoinpauy was conipo.sed of sueh men as Dr. J. K. Kly. 
president, William (ireene, superintendent, I). W. C. Rowley, .secretary, in 
December. ISOfi. another road was incorporated, running; to Hurlinfrton south 
via Iowa City. The men eonnected with this enterprise were J. II. Gear, Bur- 
lington, president, J. K. Putnam, Burlinprton, secretary, direetors Dr. S. I). Car- 
penter, of Cedar Rai)ids, K. Clark and Peter A. Dey, of Iowa City, and John 
Bird, Louisa county. 

This southern branch did not progress rapidly and there was more or less of 
a hiteh with the plans, and a question as to how the road should run. The 
•irtieles were changed, leaving out Iowa City, and the board inereased to fifteen 
members, among whom may be mentioned N. B. Brown, George Greene, and 
Charles Weare, who were added from Linn county. George Greene was ele<*ted 
president and Charles .Mason, vice ]jresident. By June, 1868, the two roads 
were luiitcd under one name, the Burlingtt^n, Cedar Riii)ids & Xortliern, (Jreene 
becoming president, and D. W. C. Rowley .secrcttiry. By January 1, 1871. 
trains were nuining between Cedar Rapids and Burlington, nnd early the fol- 
lowing year they reached to St. Paul, thus making one of the first great north and 
.south roads in Iowa. P\ir many years C. J. Ives waa president of the road till 
it was ab.sorbed by the Roek Island .system, when the headquarters were trans- 
ferred to Chicago, the Cedar Rajiids office becoming merely a division point. 

The Dubuque and Southwestern Railway was operated from Dubuque to 
Cedar Rapids in October, 1865. This was an important factor in the upbuilding 
of Marion and other towns along this road and in fact helped Cedar Rapids. 
Like all small roads, it was not a financial .success, and in May, 1878, it was sold 
to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company and new life put into it. 
The Milwaukee road in 1883 extended this line to Kansas City. The main line 
of the Milwaukee was extended to Omaha. 

The building of the interurban to Iowa City, a distance of twent.v-eight miles, 
a few years ago concludes the railway building in Linn county, with the exception 
of tJie Anaraosa and Xorthwe.stern, which runs along the northern part of the 
county; and the extension of the Illinois Central, which runs down from Man- 
chester. conne<'ting with the main line at tliat place. 

We are plea.'^ed to give space here to the following account of beginnings in 
Cedar Rapids. It is from Bailey & Hair's Gazetteer for 1865: 

"D. W. King and T. Gainor were the first settlers of any advantage to the 
county. They reached here in 1830, and .soon after made a permanent .settlement 
on the west side of the river. 

"The first white man, however, who pitched his tent on the ground, now 
occupied by the Valle.v City, was a notorioas eounterfeit/>r and horse thief by the 
name of Shepherd, who took up his abode and erected his cabin on what is now 
Commercial street, near the mills, in the year 1838. 

"Thus early was this location selected as a central point for commercial oper- 
ations with the surrounding country, and although the character of the operators 
was worse than some who have followed them in business, it nevertheless indicates 
their wisdom in making a good location for their enterprise. 

"In 1849 D. W. King established ferries for cro.ssing the river, and continued 
to run them u[> to the time of his dejith, in 1854. They were located at Iowa 
avenue and Linn street crossings. They were self-propellers, being forced across 
the river by the power of the current. A wire rope or cable extended ai-mss the 
stream upon which a pulley was placed, and connected by ropes to the boat. The 



314 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

first dam across the Cedar river was commenced in 1842, and the first saw mill 
erected in 1843. 

"In March, 1843, the lands came into market. The first flouring mill was 
erected by N. B. Brown, in 1844-5, at a cost of $3,000. Extensive additions 
have been made to this mill since. It is still owned and run by Mr. Brown. In 
1845, A. Ely erected the second saw mill and the following year the second flour- 
ing mill at a cost of $9,000. In 1848-9, the first woolen factory was erected by 
N. B. Brown. Cost, $10,000. The first steam engine was set in operation in 
1855, in the machine shop of A. Hager. 

"The first store was owned by J. Greene in the building now standing on 
the northeast corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. The second store 
was opened by Mr. Cleveland, and the third by Mr. Mulford. The proprietor of 
these stores have all left the city. Mulford 's store was destroyed by fire in 1850, 
being the first building thus destroyed in Cedar Rapids. The second fire oc- 
cui'red in 1855, when the buildings on the west side of Commercial street, between 
Iowa avenue and Linn street, were mostly consumed. The postofBee was estab- 
lished in 1847, and J. Greene appointed postmaster. 

"The first brick building was erected in 1844, on the northwest corner of 
Iowa avenue and Washington street, by P. W. Earle, and is now occupied by him. 
The Union House, on the northwest corner of Adams and Market streets, was the 
first hotel. It was destroyed by fire early in 1865. The first school house was 
erected in 1847, and the first school taught by Nelson Felch. This structure is 
now occupied as a dwelling on the north side of Eagle street between Jefferson 
and Madison. The first white child born was the daughter of John Vardy, now 
removed to Texas. The first church erected is that commonly known as the 
'Muddy,' and is still used as a house of worship. It is a small 'grout' building 
at the southeast corner of Eagle and Adams streets. The first death was that of 
a yoimg man by the name of William Brookey, some time in 1843. The first 
frame building was built by John Vardy. 

"The lodge of Free Masons was established in 1850, and James Keeler, an 
Episcopal minister, was the first W. M. The lodge took the name of Cedar Rapids 
Lodge No. 25. Its name was changed in 1864 to the more euphonious and 
Masonic name of Crescent. 

"The first newspaper was established by D. 0. Finch, in 1854. Three vol- 
umes only were issued. D. O. Finch, James J. Child, and James L. Enos, were 
successively its editors. The Era was purchased in 1854 by James L. Enos, and 
the name changed to the Cedar Valley Times, by which name it still flourishes. 
C. M. Hollis, Esq., is the present editor. The second paper was the Cedar Valley 
Farmer, J. L. Enos, editor. The Cedar Rapids Democrat was the third paper 
established, by W. W. Perkins & Co., in 1856. The Voice of Iowa was commenced 
in January, 1857, by the Iowa State Teachers' Association, and J. L. Enos elected 
editor. This journal reached a large circulation, and did much to give form to 
the school system of the state. The present public school edifice was erected in 
1856-7-8, at" a cost of some $15,000. It has six departments, and employs seven 
or eight teachers. 

"Cedar Rapids was incorporated as a city in 1856, and Isaac Newton Wliit- 
tara, Esq., was chosen the first mayor. A free bridge was constructed across the 
Cedar in 1855-6, but was soon carried away by the ice. As it fell, a large number 
were standing on the banks watching the ice as it rapidly tore the stone piers 
from their positions. Two sisters, daughters of Mr. Black, passed by the guard, 
which was stationed at the end of the bridge to keep the people from passing on, 
and had reached about the middle, when the frail fabric went down. Both young 
ladies were drowned, and the body of one was never recovered. A toll bridge 
was erected the following year, and" though a slender structure, has thus far with- 



CEDAR RAPIDS 315 

stood tlie action of the ice, though oceasioually broken dowTi by cattle passing 
over it. 

"KINGSTON CITY 

"Is a place of about 350 inhabitants, situated on the west side of the Cedar 
river, opposite tlie city of Cedar li^ipids. It is connected with this city by a 
wooden liridge, and is about one-quarter of a mile from the Cedar Rapids depot 
of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. lu the year 1838 Robert, Ellis and 
O. Howling settled on land in the vicinity, and in the year following Messrs. 
Isaac, John, and Joseph Lichtcbarger settled where Kingston now stands. Dur- 
ing the suiiiiiier following David W. King and Thomas Gainor arrived here. The 
first child born was Mary .lane, daughter of T. and R. Uainor, on the 15th of 
May, 1840. Rosannah Gainor died on the 8th of June, 1840. This was the first 
death in the place. There is in the place one paper mill, one saw mill, two black- 
smith shops, two groceries, anil one dr>' goods store. There are three religioas 
societies, Methodist Episcopal, Congregationalist, and United Presbyterian. 
There is also a commodious building for school purposes, and three libraries. 
This region of country is especiall}' adapted to growing grain. Large quantities 
are annually shipped to Chicago from this place. The immense water-power 
will at no distant day make this a large manufacturing town." 

The following as to early things in Cedar Rapids is taken from a copy of the 
Cedar Valley Times, J. L. Enos, editor, in 1865: 

"On the 4th day of July, 1841, N. B. Brown began construction of a dam for 
utilization of the power. Carson, Gray and Roach soon sold their interests to 
Messrs. Brown and Greene, who became the sole propriettirs of the water-power, 
and constructed the first saw mill in 1842-3. This mill is yet standing in the 
rear of Brown's flouring mill, which was also the first grist mill, and erected in 
1843, and extensively enlarged by the present owner in 1854-5. 

"The first blacksmith in the place was Harrison Campbell, who opened a shop 
in Shepherd's old cabin in 1843. Isaac Cook, Esq., was the first lawyer, John L. 
Shearer the first justice, and James Lewis the first constable. The name of the 
first physician seems to be lost from the memory of the 'early day,' though many 
of his peculiar traits of character are remembered. Like some others in the 
profession he was disposed to blow his own trumpet, and the stories he told to 
the uninitiated ones were marvelous in the extreme. Onee when he had returned 
from Muscatine he claimed to have lost forty pounds of quinine in one of the 
streams which put into the Cedar below the city — the water being unusually 
high. His credit was evidently then better than afterward, as was also his phy- 
sical courage. Constable Lewis, at one time called upon him with an execution 
to secure a judgment, when the doctor becoming wrafhy, threw ofT his coat for a 
fight. The constable being more intent on collecting the claim than emulous 
for notoriety as a pugilist, seized the coat and made away with it — finding a 
sufficient amount of money to pay the debt. Dr. S. M. Briee remained here for 
a few months and then removed to Center Point. Dr. E. L. Mansfield was the 
first physician who made a permanent location in this city, and still enjoys a 
large and lucrative practice. He came here in 1847 and has ever since been 
engaced in the noble endeavor — to heal the thousand natural ills that Hesh is 
heir to. 

"The first brick building was erected in 1844, by I*. W. Earle, Esq.. on the 
west corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. This building is still occu- 
pied l)y Mr. Earle. and shows but little the marks of age. A thn'c-story brick 
store was erected the sarrie year on the south corner of Iowa avenue and Com- 
mercial street. This building has since been removed to make room for the block 



316 HISTOKY OF LINN COUNTY 

of stores extendiag from Iowa avenue down the west side of Commercial street 
toward Eagle street. Greene's hotel, a fine-appearing brick hotel four stories 
high, also occupied a portion of this ground. It was erected in 1853-4 by George 
Greene, and was kept by various persons as a first-class hotel until it was taken 
down to make room for a new brick block, which was erected in 1862. 

The first store proper was opened in the building now standing on the north 
comer of Iowa avenue and Washington street, by Joseph Greene. As early as 
1842 Mr. Greene had a store in one part of a log building located on the north 
corner of Commercial and Sugar streets, the other end of the same building 
being occupied as a boarding hoase or hotel. 

"The first building erected for a hotel was built by William Dwyer in 1847. 
James Gunning being the first landlord. The building was destroyed by fire in 
January, 1865. It was known as the Union House and was located on the west 
corner of Market and Adams streets. 

"The Adventists held meetings here as early as 1842-3; a Jlr. Baker being 
the minister. The Protestant and Episcopal Methodists also had organizations 
at an early day. The Presbyterians organized soon after and erected the first 
church edifice, known as the 'Big Muddy,' taking its name from the material of 
which it was composed. It is a grout building, occupying the east comer of 
Eagle street and Adams street. The Universalists had an organization here 
quite early and were 'ministered unto' by Rev. Mr. Westfall. In either 1843 or 
'44 a somewhat noted discussion was held between Mr. Westfall, the Universalist, 
and Jlr. Roberts, Old School Presbyterian, at which Joseph Greene acted as 
umpire. The discussion continued for four days and nights. The meetings were 
largely attended and the combatants were sharp and excited. The conflict 
ended as such discussions usually do — ■ in the victory of both — and this was 
regarded by nearly all as a drawn game. 

"The first school was kept by Mi-ss Emily Coffman. The first school building 
was erected in 1846-7, by a company consisting of N. B. Brown, George Greene, 
Alex. Ely, and others, who sold it to the district, and had the satisfaction of being 
taxed to pay themselves for it. This building was on the north side of Eagle 
street between Jefferson and Madison. It is still standing and is occupied as a 
dwelling house. Nelson Felch was among the first teachers, also a IMr. Freeman, 
who has since been receiving instruction in a state institution located at Fort 
Madison. 

"The second saw mill was erected by Alex Ely in 1844 and the second flouring 
mill in 1844-5. Mr. Ely died sliortly after the completion of this mill. In 1848 
N. B. Bro\vn built the first woolen factory. The first steam engine was put up 
here in 1855 by A. Hager, in his sash, door and blind manufactory. He had an 
extensive amount of machinery connected with it and employed a number of 
workmen. 

"The second store was established by Mr. Cleveland, and the third by C. K. 
Mulford. Mulford's store was afterward occupied as a dwelling, on the east 
corner of Commercial and Linn streets, and was destroyed by fire in 1850. That 
was the first fire in Cedar Rapids, and none occurred after it until the autumn 
of 1855, when most of the block on the west side of Commercial street, between 
Iowa avenue and Linn street, was destroyed. No precautions have been tal?en 
to prevent the spread of the destroying element, and were a fire to occur tomor- 
row no more means would be found of subduing it than existed twenty years 
ago. It would seem that a wise people would not thus neglect w'hat may at any 
moment be of such vast importance. But so it is, and so it is likely to remain 
until a fire shall occur that will lay in ruins a large portion of our city and de- 
stroy thousands of dollars worth of property. Personal insurance can best cover 
a part of this loss and perhaps not one-half are provided with this protection." 




REPRODUCTION of THE FIR 




The old map was made in 1h.!» ainytlie only copy now 
in existence is the property of Mr. l.eX \V. Anderson. It 
is yellow, faded and dim and in many parts was difficult 
^to trace. It has l>ecn used many ftmes as evidence in 
courT-in-leKal contest!) over proper A- rights The rcpro 
dtictii>ii show5-T4eiirl>- the orivcinni iSlnt of the city indud 
iuK Kiinrsloii, theislaTnK>l>nrks. s./iiares, bloi-ks, additions, 
stations, streets, names, ct;n~-/l'he street n.iines have 
nearly all been changed since that time. 



MAP OF CEDAR RAPIDS 



CEDAR RAPIDS 317 

Dr. Seymour D. Carpenter, who came to Cedar Rapids in 1849, contributed 
the below quoted memoirs to ii History of Crescent Lodge. J. K. Morcombe. 
author, and publisliod by the lodge in 1906. It is of value in the consideration 
of the history of early times in thft city and county : 

"I wished to read law, but there was a family prejudice jigainst the profession, 
and I concluded to study medicine and accordingly entered as a student the 
oflSce of Drs. Bocrstler & Edwards, who were among the leading piiysicians. 
There for a year I read books that were full of wiiat are now exploded theories 
and practice, at the end of which time I wa.s sent to the University of Pennsyl- 
vaniii, where two years after I w;i.s graduated as a doctor of medicine. Hetiirning 
home in the spring of 1849, I remained but a few months and then started 
west 'to grow up with the country.' I again rode to ('incinnati on horseback, 
took steamer to St. Louis, thence by tinother boat up the Illinois river to Ilaver- 
ville. Not liking the place, I rode west and crossed the Mississippi at Quincy 
and went to Kirksvillc in Mi.s.souri. Still not pleased, I turned n(irth and went 
to Ottumwa, Iowa, where I met Judge Greene, then a member of the sui)remf» 
bench of Iowa. Ho persuaded me that Cedar Rapids was in the near future to 
become a metropolis, and 1 decided to go there. After four days' hard riding 
and swimming several swollen strejuns, I struck the town on the afternoon of 
the 14tb of June, 1849. I crossed the river on a rope ferr>' operated l)y David 
King, who lived in a c^l)in on the west side. On the other side of the river stood 
the cabin once the home of a man named Shepherd, and said to have been the 
resort of thieves in an earlier day. I cannot say that I was very favorably im- 
pressed by the thirty or forty mostly one-story unpainted houses that were scat- 
tered about near the river. There seemed t^ be a great deal of sand, and the 
houses were so situated that there was no sign of a street. There were three 
two-story houses, one on the river near the foot of what is now Third avenue, 
called the 'Park hoiise, ' in which the Greenes had their store; one on second street 
in which John CofTman kept a hotel, and one on Third avenue, back of the Dows 
& Ely block, also a hotel, but keeper's name forgotten. I was discouraged and 
would have traveled further but only had about ton dollars left, and from neces- 
sity bad to stop. I put up at the Coffman hotel, which, as I have said, was a 
two-storj- structure with a wing. It had been built of unseasoned oak lumber 
and was not plastered. The whole of the second ston," of the main building was 
in one room, and contained eight or ten beds and was the common sleeiiing room 
of the guests. The lumber had shrunk and there could be no complaint as to 
Ventilation, however short the accommodations might be in other respects. I 
had hardly got .'•ettled licfore I was interviewed by old Joe Leverich. a noted 
character of Linn county of that day. He was known as the 'Bogus Coon,' be- 
cause, as was alleged, he bad t/i do with counterfeiters. lie was a power in 
polities and wius the kind of a man from which the modem 'pop' has evoluted. 
Joe looked me over, asked where I was from, where I w^us going, what my business 
was, etc.. etc. I was somewhat indignant and tried to be sarcastic, but Joe, in 
terminating his interview, squelched me by rcmarkinc: 'Young man. a fellow 
that wi'ars such a bat lus you do may pa.ss in this coimtry, but 1 consider it d — d 
doubtful.' I unfortunately wore a '|»Iug' hat which was not the style in Iowa 
a half centurj' ago. In s>ibscqucnt years .loe and 1 became fast friends, and I 
became quite convinced that the shady st/tries told of him were the talk of 
enemies wlui were jealous of him because he was smarter than the great majority 
of them. I was with him when he died, and. although a free-thinker, he pa.ssed 
away with all the calmness of a stoic philosopher. 

"Within a week I made the mquaintance of all the people of the town. 
Among the leading jx-rsons were William and Josei)h Greene, brothers of the 
judge. Ix)well and Lawson Daniels, Homer Bishop and John Weare, all of whom 



318 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

were merchants. The three stores of which they were the proprietors would not 
compare well with the department stores of today, but all the same they were 
department stores, and in their miscellaneous stocks the customer could find 
all he wanted, from castor oil to broad-axes. Pollock & Stewart were the black- 
smiths, and the carpenters and wagon-makers were also represented, but 1 cannot 
recall their names. 

"Dr. Mansfield took me as a partner, and in company with Judge Cook, we 
had a room, 10x16, in a small one-story building opposite the mill, the other part 
being occupied by S. L. Pollock and family. His blacksmith shop was near by. 
Our medicines were kept on a shelf and a store box made a table. Our bimks 
occupied one side and a few stools and two split-bottomed chairs made up our 
furniture. We took our meals at the Coffman house. Our field of practice em- 
braced the settlers, not numerous, in the valleys of the Cedar and Iowa rivers 
and their tributaries. We made very long rides. I was called to see a patient 
two miles above the present town of Vinton, not then begun. I got lost in the 
night and waited for daylight under a tree on the bank of the river at the very 
spot where Vinton now stands. Bilious fever and ague were the prevailing dis- 
eases, all the newcomers having to undergo one or both. As patients and clients 
were not very numerous, we had a good deal of leisure. Judge Cook was a fine 
reader and we took turns at Shakespeare, a copy of which we fortunately pos- 
sessed. During the summer Dr. Mansfield and myself built a story and half 
office on Commercial street, about the middle of the block on which the Danieb 
store was located. We had a mail three times a week from Dubuque and Iowa 
City. The Higley brothers did the service in a two-horse hack. I think Joseph 
Greene was postmaster. John Weare, Sr., was .iustice of the peace. He was a 
very original character, fond of company and full of interesting reminiscences 
extending back to the war of 1812, in which he had lost a leg. His small office 
was in the rear of Mrs. Ely's residence, which stood on the ground where the 
Dows & Ely block now is. He save 'nicknames' to many people and places 
which stuck to them like burrs. The first Presbyterian or Congregational church 
building was begun that summer, and as the walls were built of cement, old 
Mr. Weare named it the 'Muddy,' which it retained to the last day of its exist- 
ence. Many buildings were put up that year with a corresponding increase in 
population. All the people were full of hope and ambition. We began to talk 
of railroads. The people of Dubuque and Keokuk, the leading river towns, 
started a scheme for a road running through the interior and connecting them. 
The people along the line, at Cascade, Anamosa, Marion, Cedar Kapids, Wash- 
ington and Fairfield eagerly endorsed the project, meetings were held and it was 
resolved to hold two delegate conventions, on the same day, one at Anamosa, the 
other at Fairfield. We had a rousing meeting in Cedar Rapids. There were 
nearly a hundred people present, and they resolved to have the railroad forthwith. 
From our standpoint it was the government's duty to donate land, and for eastern 
people to furnish the money. Delegates were chosen to both conventions. Dr. 
John F. Ely and myself were selected to so to Fairfield. Both conventions were 
to be held on the 6th of December, 1849. We left Cedar Rapids on the 3d of 
December and after three days' hard and cold travel reached Fairfield. Marion 
sent Col. I. M. Preston and Dr. Ristine. The convention met in a small school 
house. All the coimties were represented. The Hon. C. W. Slagle. of Fairfield, 
then a verj' young man, was chosen president. I was chosen secretary'. The little 
school hoiise was packed, and if any doubt the courage and scope of that con- 
vention, let him look up the old file of newspapers of that day and read. Dr. 
Ballard, of Iowa City. Stewart Goodsel, of Brighton, Joseph Casey, of Keokuk 
county, and General Van Plank Van Antwerp were present and took active part. 
We parted for our various homes, thinking the work half done, but sad to relate. 
Cedar Rapids had to wait ten years longer for the locomotive. These two meet- 



CEDAR RAPIDS 319 

inps were, as I think, the first railroad conventions held in the interior of the 
state. Soon opposition schi-mes were started for east and west lines, and our 
project was ignomiuiously called the 'Kani's Horn.' The next year was quite 
a stirrinsr one. New people were coming in preat numbers, but many were 
leaving, for the California fever had broken out. Several outfits left Cedar 
Rapids, and with one of them Dr. Manslield. my partner, whose place was takco 
by Dr. S. C. Koontz. a cousin of mine, one well known to the old citizens. That 
year the first brick buildings were erected, a dwelling on Iowa avenue near 
Greene's opera house, and a three-story building on Commercial street, by Judge 
Greene, which for a long time was the show building of the town. We began to 
put on city airs. 

"At this time .Martin L. Barber wa.s mayor of the village. It was before the 
present city organization. Barber was an eccentric character, a millwright bj- 
trade. He was nejirly as wise as Solomon, with courage to match. A 'bad man' 
came to the town. He hung about the saloon. It was said he drew a knife and 
threatened to kill a citizen. The majesty of the law was invoked. It was night. 
The ofl'endcr f*)ok refuge in the saloon and barricaded the door. The mayor 
called out the 'posse eommitatus' numbering two or three dozen young fellows 
like myself. He pounded on the door, demanding admittance in the name of the 
law. No response. We got a piece of timber and battered down the door. The 
mayor collared the 'bad man' who offered no resistance. He was hurried to- 
wards the Coffman house, where the mayor proposed to deal out justice. As we 
nearcd the hotel he tore loose from the mayor and made for the river. We in 
full cry in pursxiit. He plunged in just below the mill. We paused at the 
brink. Gradually he disappeared, and was never seen afterwards. It was the 
first and last exhibition of the mayor's power. 

"In 1850 Miss Mary S. Legare, sister of the Hon. Hugh S. Legare of South 
Carolina, came to Cedar Rapids. She was a woman of the highest culture, who 
had moved much in the ofTicial circles of Washington, and had considerable 
wealth. With her came numerous relatives named Bryan, Storey, and Mcin- 
tosh, the latter a well known lawyer of the early days. She made investments in 
the town and took up large tracts of land. In the spring of that year we had a 
very spirited election. The people were divided into two factions, the 'codfi.sh' 
and the 'catfish.' For mayor the former nominated N. B. Brown, the latter 
Jacob Bressler. I cannot recall the issues, but only remember that we almost 
came to blows during the canvass. Less than one hundred votes were cast and 
Brown was elected. Brown was one of the original owners of the town site, and 
built the first mills. He was one of the prominent characters in the e^rly history 
of the town, a modest, i|uiet, but genial man, with many friends. 

"This year, on the 6th of July, I did one of the few wise acts of my life. I 
married Sarah Weare, the daughter of John Weare, Sr. We went to hou.sc- 
keeping in a small one-story house, near where the old pas.senger depot stood. 
It was then the only house east of the present railroad. The next year, 1851, 
was a very active one for the town. Judge Greene, who had lived in Dubuque, 
moved to the town. The same year came S. C. Bever, who had driven in a 
two-horse buggy from Holmes county, Ohio, to (Vdar Rapids. By this time I 
considered myself an old citizen, thoroughly identified with the county and town, 
and devoted all my leisure time to meeting strangers and exploiting the town and 
county. I met Mr. Bever soon after his arrival and spent several days wnth him 
riding about the countrj'. He made large investments both in country- and town. 
One was 160 acres about a mile from the ferry, at ^t\.()() per acre. I made the 
sale for Mr. Addis.m Daniels of Marion, who was so plea.sed with my effort that he 
presented me with a four-bladed i)enknife. Both Mr. Daniels and myself were 
satisfied and I have never heard that Mr. Bever regretted the jiureliase. That 
same year my father. Mr. Gabriel Carpenter, came o\it to see the country'. After 



320 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

great effort on my part and many misgivings on his, he purchased of Mr. Levi 
Lewis 300 acres of land adjoining the town plat on the south, for which he paid 
$2,500. The land embraced the present cemeterj'. By this time Judge Greene 
had completed his three-story building, into which the Greene Bros, placed a 
large .stock of goods. The most of their stock was brought up the river in a 
keel boat of forty or fiftj- tons capacity. It was rigged with a large square sail, 
but the principal power was men with poles, who shoved it against the current. 
They liad loaded it with pork and sent it down the river in the spring. 

"In 1851 occurred the great flood. Most of the lower parts of the town were 
under water. The grand lodge met that year at Ft. Madisou, and at the time 
the river was at its highest point. "We were cut off from all the neighboring 
country by the swollen streams, but the lodge thought it must be represented 
and I was chosen as the delegate. N. B. Bro\vn suggested that I should go down 
the river in a skiff to a point opposite Muscatine, then by land to that place, which 
is only ten or twelve miles distant, then by steamer to Ft. Madison. The lodge 
furnished the skiff. I foimd a companion. We embarked in the morning and so 
swift was the current that we reached our destination by nightfall, and I was on 
time for the meeting. At the meeting I renewed my acquaintance with the 
grand master and the grand secretary, and met many brethren who became life- 
long friends. 

"In the spring of 1852 a steamboat came to Cedar Rapids. It was a great 
event, and brought in people from near and far. She brought a fidl cargo of 
freight, among which was the household effects of Mr. Bever and my father, 
both of whom from that time forward became citizens of the town. This year 
also came Mr. Daniel 0. Finch with a printing press and forthwith started the 
Progressive Era, the first paper in the Cedar valley. Ezra Van Metre, a talented 
young lawyer from Cincinnati, Ohio, also came that year. Every one was re- 
joiced that we had an organ and the editor was overwhelmed with original mat- 
ter. There were at least a dozen young fellows in the town, myself among the 
rest, who thought they 'knew it all,' and anxiously rushed into print. The paper 
changed hands in a year or two, and became the Cedar Valley Times and con- 
tinued until a few years ago. 

"In the winter of 1852 I had a .serious time in a professional way. A young 
man living at Quasquet«n, Buchanan county, was riding across the prairie near 
that place and met a bear. The bear fled and he pursued. In crossing a strip 
of ice the horse fell. He was thrown and his foot stuck in the stirrup and he was 
dragged four miles over the snow, which was about six inches deep. In the mad 
flight the horse kicked and broke his right leg below the Imee in two places. 
Finally the saddle turned, his foot was released and he was dropped on the lone 
prairie. The horse found his way home with saddle under his belly. This was 
on the evening of the 17th of December. A search was organized, but he was not 
foiuid till the 21st, four days after the accident. Fortunately the weather was 
not ius cold as it sometimes gets, but his hands and feet were badly frozen. Cedar 
Rapids, about thirty-five miles distant, was the nearest point where doctors could 
be found. I was sent for and went by the way of Marion, and took with me 
Dr. Thomas Bardwell, who was then a student in Dr. Ristine's office. There was 
a road to Center Point. There we struck across the prairie to Quasqueton, 
eighteen miles distant, without a house. We reached there the evening of the 
23d, nearly frozen ourselves, for the weather was bitterly cold. They had got 
the young man thawed out, but in a most miserable condition. Mortification 
had set in, and there was no chance for the broken leg. Immediate amputation 
was the only hope, but I had no instrument but a small pocket ease, and delay 
would be fatal. Necessity is the mother of invention. A butcher had just come 
to the place and had his tools. He sharpened his knives and filed his saw. A 
strong handkerchief was twisted, a knot made in the middle, which was placed 




FEDERAL BUILDING, CEDAK K Al'IDS 




Al-niTOKICM, CEDAR RAPIDS 



CEDAR RAPIDS 321 

over the main artery. It was tied tiglitly and a stron;? stick thrust under it and 
twisted till tlie circulation was shut olY. Then with the butcher's tool I ampu- 
tated the thigh four inches above the knee. Dr. Bardwell administered chloro- 
form, which fortunately we had taken with us, and he encouraged me by word and 
deed. The younjij fellow, who was about 21, had never been sick a day in his 
life, rallied well and improved for about a week, but the other leg, which we hoped 
to save, legan to mortify and there was nothing left but to amputate it. In the 
meantime we heard of a doctor about thirty miles away, in the direction of Du- 
buque, who had a case of instruments. I sent to borrow them. He refused to 
lend them but came back with the messenger and insisted, as he owned the instru- 
ments, he should perform the operation. That was not professional, but as I 
thought the patient had not more than one chance in ten to recover, I was not 
unwilling U> divide the responsibility, so he amputated the other leg below the 
knee. During that winter I made eight trips between Cedar Rapids and Quas- 
queton on horseback, and the fellow recovered. lie was the son of a well-to-do 
farmer in Hiirrison county, Ohio. His father came out in the spring, stole his 
son away without paying the doctors or the man in whose house be had been 
during recovery, and to carry ingratitude still further he procured a Methodist 
preacher to wTite his life, in which I was depicted as an ignorant butcher. This 
book he peddled about Ohio in person. I confess that when I heard he had 
been sent to the penitentiarj- for committing an a^rgravated rape I was not very 
sorry. This experience rather disgusted me with the practice of medicine in a 
new countrj-. I was, however, in a way compensated, for I sent a history of the 
ease to tlie New York Tribune, and it.s publication gave me quite a reputation 
as a fearless surgeon and thereafter I was called when surgery was required. 
As I have said before, I was in the habit of showing strangers about the country 
who wanted to buy land. In that way I became familiar with choice lots of 
vacant land. Greene and Weare dealt in land warrants, which they sold on a 
credit at three per cent per month interest. I knew of a section of land in the 
Iowa river bottom that I thought I should be able to sell. I borrowed the land 
warrants, entered the section and in less than two months had sold it for .$.3 per 
acre cash. That settled the matter. By one transaction I had made more than 
I had done in any year's practice. I sold out my medicines to Dr. Koontz and 
thenceforth till the war had nothing to do with medicine. 

"About 1853-4 we began to lose confidence in the "Ram's Horn' railroad pro- 
ject. Congress had made grants of land to aid railroad projects and public 
opinion seemed to favor east and west rather than north and south lines. Roads 
from Chicago were approaching the Mississippi river, and a line from Rock Island 
to Council Bluffs was projected. The people in the tier of counties north of the 
projected liup became stirred up and a railroad convention was called to meet in 
Maquoketa. Jackson county, to organize a company to build a line in their in- 
terest. Cedar Rapids sent a dclprration as follows: George Greene, N. B. Brown, 
Daniel Lothian, I. N. Whittam, Donald Mcintosh, Ezra Van Metre, and myself. 
Marion also sent a large delegation and the counties along the line were well 
represented. A company was organized to biiild a line fn)m Savanna on the 
Mis.sissippi river to a point on the Missouri river not named. A corps of sur- 
veyors was put in the field and for two or three years it was the favorite project 
of Cedar Rapids. The settlement.s both in town and country were increasing 
rapidly mu\ we suffered grratly for lack of transportation. Judge Greene, with 
his usual energv- and public spirit, organized a stt^amboat company in which the 
prominent citizens became stockholders. This was in the winter. The judge 
went to Pittsburg, contracted for a boat suitable for our river, which by spring 
was completed and at the opening of navigation made her first trip, w«'ll freighted 
with all kinds of goods for our own merchanf-s. and Uiose of the surrounding 
towns. She was kept in commission for two or three years and was a great 



322 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

benefit to the community. The companj' hired a captain and various stock- 
holders were at different times supercargo. While H. G. Angle was acting in 
that capacity she collided with and sunk another boat on the ^Mississippi, which 
led to a law suit in which our company had to pay large damages, which swept 
away all our profits. She made her last trip under my charge, and under direc- 
tion of the company I sold her to parties in St. Louis. By this time a great 
rivalry had grown up between our town and Marion. Cedar Rapids claimed that 
she was to be the commercial metropolis and therefore ought to be the political 
center. The question was brought to an issue by the county commissioners 
ordering a new court house at Marion, subject to the approval of the voters of the 
countj'. Cedar Rapids opposed the measure, believing that the building would 
insure the permanent location of the county seat. Then ensued a most bitter 
canvass. The voters were delusred with oratorv. Marion put on the stump 
Judge Lsbell, I. M. Preston, Col. Wm. Sraythe, N."m. Hubbard, W. G. Thompson, 
and R. D. Stephens, against whom Cedar Rapids opposed Jas. J. Child, Ezra 
Van Metre, Donald Mcintosh, A. S. Belt. E. N. Bates, I. N. Whittam, and 
others. Every school district was canvassed and much bitter feeling engendered. 
The Marion people were more adroit politicians and carried the election, but the 
result did not discourage our citizens, who asserted that no election could affect 
'manifest destiny.' 

"About 1852 Major J. JI. Jlay came to Cedar Rapids from Janesville, Wis- 
consin. The major was a stirring man with a liead full of schemes. He said 
that Cedar Rapids was a place of immense possibilities and only wanted enter- 
prise to make it the great town of Iowa. He bought land at the lower part of 
town adjoining that owned by my father, and land on the west side adjoining 
the river and below that owned by Dr. King. He platted out town lots on both 
sides of the river, and induced my father and King to do the same, which were 
the first additions made to the original town. He also surveyed the island, sent 
a plat to the general government and took possession of it, much to the chagrin 
and surprise of the old settlers. Then he began to agitate the question of a free 
bridge. Every one wanted a free bridge but were undecided as to the location. 
The major induced my father to subscribe $1,500, and he gave $1,000. which with 
sums contributed by others in the lower end of the town, secured the location 
below the island at the narrowest place in the river. The hridcre was completed 
and thrown open to the public, I think, in the late fall of 1852, and proved a 
great convenience. The construction was defective and when the ice broke up in 
the spring, the heavA' cakes knocked down two of the piers, and destroyed the 
greater part of the bridge. All the people of the towTi were collected on the 
bank of the river watching the event, and two young women who were crossing 
went down with the structure and were drowned. This was the first bridge built 
at Cedar Rapids. The next was a bridee of boats at the foot of Iowa avenue 
which I believe was also swept away by ice. About this time the Rev. "Williston 
Jones, who officiated in the 'IMuddy.' and was a very good as well as energetic 
man, went east on some missionary effort. While there he met a gentleman named 
Coe, who made a donation of land adjoining the town plat for educational pur- 
poses providing the people would also contribute. A meeting was called and the 
terms complied with and thus Coe college was founded. I was quite honored 
when with others I was named as a trustee. Not long after this time the Rev- 
erend Starr became rector of the Episcopal church, and under the lead of Judge 
Greene and Mr. Bever, they began the erection of the first Episcopal church, 
and about the same time the Tilethodists built a brick church, so you see Cedar 
Rapids began to get on ' praying grounds and interceding terms. ' In the winter 
of 1856-7 we were surprised and flattered by receiving a communication from a 
party of railroad men connected with the North-Westem railroad, then completed 
to Fulton, Illinois, asking us to join them and organize a railroad company 



CEDAR RAPIDS 323 

from Clinton on the west side of the Mississippi river to our town. This was 
a new proposition, and we had never heard of Clintun, which in point of faet 
was only a cornfield staked out in town lots, besides we were eommitted to the 
line that was to run west from Savanna. We consulted with the Marion people, 
hut they would have nothinsr to do with it, ar!ruin<» that we had already applied 
for the land grant for the Savanna route. After serious deliberation and with 
considerable misgivings, we decided to send a delegation to spy out the land and 
be governed by circumstances. John Weare and 11. G. Angle were chosen as 
our representatives. It took them three days U) drive to Lyons which was the 
nearest town to Clinton, the proposed starting point. That was the first time 
any of our citizens had come in contact with real capitalists, men who built rail- 
roads. There they met a party of men from Boston, from Maine, from New 
York, and Chicago, among whom was Charles Walker of Chicago, then president 
of tlie Xorth-Westera. Our deputations were swept from their old moorings 
and immediately joined hands with these men and formed a company, the 'Chi- 
cago, Iowa & Nebraska,' to build west from Clinton, by the way of Cedar Rapids 
to the Missouri river. Cedar Rapids was given first directors as follows: Geo. 
Greene, John Weare, H. G. Angle, S. C. Bever. and S. D. Carpenter, which po- 
sitions we held till the road was built to Cedar Rapids. This new departure on 
the part of Cedar Rapids intensified the feeling of rivalry between her and 
Marion; a direct line between Clinton and Cedar Rapids would leave Marion off 
the route, besides the natural obstacles were less from Mount Vernon to the 
river and thence to Cedar Rapids. The Marionites denounced us as traitors to 
the original scheme, with a malignant intent to leave them out in the cold. We 
denied the 'allegation and defied the alligators.' 

"We said there was nothing behind the old project, but that ours was a live 
scheme, with experienced men with bags of money to put it through. Our dep- 
uties had pledged $200,000 from Cedar Rapids, which we proceeded to raise, 
$100,000 by private subscription and $100,000 by city bonds. Greene & Weare, 
then bankers, subscribed $10,000; George Greene, $5,000; John Weare, $5,000; 
N. B. Brown, $5,000; S. C. Bever, $5,000; Gabriel Carpenter, $5,000. and num- 
erous others smaller sums to make up the amount. Then a city election was had 
and the $100,000 voted by an overwhelming majority. Surs'eys of the route 
were begun at once and from Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids, two lines were 
seen ; one by the way of Marion, and the other by the river. It was ascertained 
that the latter route would be shorter and cheaper by $100,000 than the former, 
but the company proposed to adopt the Marion route if she would subscribe 
$100,000, which she declined to do, and the river line was chosen. Work pro- 
gressed slowly and the first year found the rails no further west than Do Witt. 
Clinton county. Nothing had been done on the Savanna line. 

"Meantime the legislature for 1S57-8 assembled, and we were astounded to 
learn that they had pa.ssed a bill giving a land grant to that company. I do not 
remember why wc had not looked after our interests, but only know that we were 
taken by surprise. We thought our enterprise in great jeopardy, and resolved 
to compromise, if possible, with Marion. I think that Jiidire Isbell was tlien 
president of the Savanna company. Major May, who had favored the Marion 
line, for what rea.son I now forget, and my.self from a warm personal friendship 
with Judge Isbell, were chosen ambius.sadors. We met the judge and the Marion 
directors of the rival line. They were courteous, but obdurate. They said we 
had deserted them and nin after strange gods, and now that the tables were 
turned, they j>roposed to build the road straierht west, crossing the river eight 
miles north of Cedar Rapids, and instead of their building a branch to Cedar 
Rapids, we if «<• chos<» might build the branch fn>m Cedar Rapids, and thus we 
left them, sjid and discouraged. 'Whom the gods would destroy they first make 
mad.' and thus it turned out with the Savanna route. The company was com- 



324 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

posed entirely of Iowa men, directors from the various county seats and towns 
along the line. Very soon after obtaining the grant, they got together and voted 
each other $25,000 apiece for services rendered in obtaining the land grant. As 
there were about twenty of them, the scheme was loaded by about $500,000. 
Then they tried to exploit the enterprise among eastern capitalists. But the 
hard times of 1857-8 were upon us and money was scarce both east and west. 
No one would take hold. In the meantime our road was slowly creeping on, and 
was within thirty miles of Cedar Rapids. The grading contract was let to 
John G. Wolf, an experienced railroad builder from the east. Jlost of the money 
to pay him had to be raised among ourselves and pay day was a most serious 
time. I remember upon one occasion, the cash entirely failed, but the merchants 
of the town agreed to honor orders for goods, Mr. Bever among the others. Mr. 
Bever had been a merchant in Holmes county, Ohio, and brought his stock of 
goods from there to Cedar Rapids. Among other things he had two or three 
cases of bell crowned silk hats of a verj'^ ancient date. On pay day our citizens 
were greatly amused to see our streets crowded with Irishmen, all wearing bell 
crowTied hats, and as 'fire water' was plenty, before night a great many of the 
hats were caved in. Our Marion friends hearing of it said our company was 
'busted,' our only assets consisting of bell crowned hats. But we persevered and 
bided our time. We called a mass meeting in the city preparatory to forming a 
new company to build the road west from Cedar Rapids to the Missouri river, 
and appointed a committee to issue a prospectus to all the counties west of us 
on the proposed line to meet in delegate convention at Cedar Rapids. I had 
the honor of being chairman of tliat convention and as such prepared the paper, 
and if you will examine the file of newspapers of that day you will find a ' Spread 
Eagle' document that I supposed would move the souls of our frontier friends. 
They re.sponded nobly and came on the time desigiiated, and we organized the 
'Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railroad Company,' at least I believe that was the 
name. L. B. Crocker, of New York, was made president, with several eastern 
and western directors, myself among the number. Then as the company to 
whom the legislature had given the grant of land, had not turned a spadeful of 
earth, we organized a lobby embracing all our directors on the line west of us; 
L. B. Crocker, the president, Major Bodfish, a Maine man, and several of our 
Cedar Rapids directors, mj'self among the others. When the legislature as- 
sembled in 1859-60 we invaded the capital, and established our headquarters in an 
old hotel near the river, whose name I have forgotten. Major Bodfish was the 
commissary of the body. W^e had no money to expend, but determined to be 
hospitable. The major laid in a barrel of old rye whiskey; as it was before the 
war, whiskey was cheap, also several boxes of cigars. One of our strongest 
henchmen was J. M. Woodburj', a leading man from Marshalltown, and with him 
Peter Hepburn, now an honored congressman, then a very stripling, but showing 
evident signs of what was in him. John J. Kasson was then a young lawyer in 
Des Moines, and we secured him as our attorney. Our opponents were not asleep, 
but were on hand from Marion, east to the Mississippi river, with Piatt Smith, a 
distinguished member of the bar at Dubuque, as their lawyer. Then the fight 
began, in and out of the state house. Speeches were made by our adherents in 
both branches, and we buttonholed and dragged to our headquarters all thirsty 
souls, as well as those who indulged in the milder stimulant. Our strong argu- 
ment was, that our opponents had done nothing after having the grant for two 
years, while we had about completed eighty miles of road without help ; that we on- 
ly asked for the grant to apply to the line west of Cedar Rapids, while they would 
\ise it for the line from the Mississippi, and that we would be able to accommodate 
the people with a finished road at least two years before they could. The law 
makers were not in a htirrj-, but towards the last of the session they passed our 
bill, and you may be sure there was great rejoicing in Cedar Rapids. On our 



CEDAR RAPIDS 325 

return the citizens gave us a grand ban(|net in Greene's hotel, and we felt that 
we had at last secured a sulistantial victory for our city, as in fact it was, for 
thencefor\vard Marion could no longer be our rival. The cars came to Cedar 
Rapids in the summer of 185D, just ten years after we had held our first railroad 
meeting, and we felt at last that hope had ended in fruition. An immense con- 
course greeted their arrival from all part-s of the surroimding country. General 
D. N. Sprague, then mayor, welcomed the guests, and the citizens threw open 
hospitable doors to all comers. ' ' 

From 1840 to 1846 much work was going on in the thriving little town. Glass 
had already a small grist mill on McCloud's Run and a saw mill had been started 
on Indian creek which furnished lumber till the saw mill on the Cedar river was 
completed. The labor on the dam was a big undertaking and took much time 
as the enterprising adventurers were not well prepared to cope with so large an 
undertaking. 

Many settlers were coming constantly, all of them full of courage and pleased 
with the location, which all proclaimed could not be improved upon. There were 
Alexander Ely, Joseph Greene, Homer Bishop, P. W. Earle, John Vardy, D. 
Fiddlar, A. Eddy. George We-stlake, William Dwyer, James Gunning, Charles 
Mulford. Isaac Cook, John Shearer, James Lewis, Dr. S. M. Brice, and many 
others. 

Churches were also organized, such as the Methodist, in 1841, by Rev. Hodges, 
and the Baptist the same year by Rev. Q. E. Eberhart. The United Presbyterian 
church was organized by John Cunningham ten years later. New settlers came 
and other church organizations were completed and small church buildings were 
erected by the members. 

The following chatty reminiscences of pioneer times is from the Republican 
of recent date : 

" 'If two of us wanted to lunch together,' he said, 'we went to a saloon and 
sat down over some black bread and a little beer. Now you must stand up to 
drink your beer, and you may eat nothing.' 

"In the old days the city and the county politicians met here and talked over 
the political situation. The professional men met on equal grounds. Now it is 
all changed. 

"There were some interesting places in Cedar Rapids in those old days. In 
the location where Mr. Armstrong is now about to erect a fine business block 
there was an old German named Moritz IIofTbe?k. It was a sand hill then, but 
there was a good cellar where IIofn>eck sold b!?er, gave away good lun^'hes and 
entertained the crowd. His good wife also served the guests with good things to 
eat, cooked after her own fashion. Here congregated the best business men of 
the tOMTi after the day 's business was over. They went home in the best of spirits, 
but often it was rather late when they went. 

"Some of the city's poets of that day composed a little poem about Moritz 
which ran as follows: 

"Moritz Hoffbeck is my name, 

Bavaria is my nation. 
Cedar Rapids I dearly love, 

For here I get my ration. 

"Another German, Sam Leunch, kept a place at Third avenue and First .street, 
which wa.s for many years a meeting place for farmers as well as city men. It 
also had a reputation for its fine lunches. 

"Syeh's place was on the present location of the Y. M. C. A. This also waa 
German and German dishes were one of its great attractions. 



326 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"Frank Simon had a restaurant where Stark's hotel is now located. It was 
an eating house ; also a drinking house. It was noted in five counties for being 
the place to get the best oysters in any style. The German fries have never been 
excelled. When Simon died, Ben Springer married his widow. He retired many 
years ago and sold the business to the Starks. 

"Frank Mark was a Swede who kept a saloon where Denecke's store is 
located, fronting on Second avenue. It was a small place but it was always full 
for he served eatables and kept private rooms for his city patrons who wished 
a quiet place in which to talk things over. 

"Pollack's where Severa's store is now located, was the Bohemian restaurant 
much sought for its good things to eat and for the imported drinks which he kept 
for his best friends. 

"Count Boshon kept a saloon down into prohibition times and ran many saloons 
in various places. He was known as the King of Bohemia and acted as though 
he might have been a count. He imported the Philip Best beer from Milwaukee 
and stored a car or two at a time in ice, and for this he obtained a great repu- 
tation. Count Boshon was a chancellor and knew how to secure the good will 
of prominent pereons of the city and of the county officials. He seemed to stand 
in with all. It is said in his favor that while he may have violated the law in 
some instance he tried to keep a decent place. 

"The j'oung business men would take a Saturday ofif and go up fishing or 
hunting or hire Elias Doty and his boat, the 'Climax,' and take a sail on the 
murky waters on the Red Cedar, sometimes up, and now and then when the water 
was high, down stream. Now all has changed. 

"In the olden times there were dances at the neighbors or other old gatherings. 
All were common. No dress suits were seen and there was no delay on account of 
lack of any introduction. 

"Doctors would get together and tell stories, lawj'ers would joke over their 
trials in court and in every way people were on an equality and truly happy. 

"Then people did not devote all their time to making money. Thej' did not 
spend all the time in business. Young and old had a better time of it, for they 
worked and played as well. They were really content with the surroundings 
and with their condition in life. 

"In winter time people got together and had a good time, going skating or 
sleighing — on Christmas there were not so many gifts as now, but what was 
given was with the best of feeling. Another thing we have lost, and that is, the 
New Year's day calls. Old and young, married and single, made calls on this day 
every year. 

"It was a fine custom and it ought not to have been dropped. Now people are 
too busy to call on their neighbors and they seem to fear that society would not 
approve of it. In the olden days no questions were asked about one's grand- 
father." 

The old founders of Cedar Rapids were strong men in many ways. They 
were real live wires, and frequently spent money and devoted much of their 
time to exploit new industries. Such men as Geo. Greene, N. B. Bromi, David 
King. S. D. Carpenter, W. B. IMack, R. C. Rock, P. W. Earle, H. G. Angle. J. E. 
Sanford. the Daniels family, the Ely family, the "Weare family, the Bever family, 
and many others were men of rare intelligence, aggressive, enterprising, and wide 
awake, who came here to make a city at all hazards. They were true as steel to 
their convictions, enthusiastic in booming their town, and the "balance wheels" 
in time of need which kept things going. Even when some of the.se men lost 
heavily in the unfortunate steamboat ventures, in railroad exploitations, in 
bridges, dams, factory properties, and in other ways, the.v never complained, 
although at times it made them "men of sorrow and acquainted with grief." 



CEDAR RAPIDS 327 

They never lost courage, aud expei-ti'd things to turn, even when they looked the 
darkest, and won in the end. The early pioneers were men keen to see an oppor- 
tunity. They were able to look ahead, and for this reason they perhaps hung on 
when times were hard and when enterprises failed to materialize. It was due to 
the enthusiastic spirit of those leading citizens that cau.sed the I^egare and Bryan 
families U) invest $80,000 in gold in Linn county property. It was no doubt due 
to the up-to-date, progressive spirit of those citizens that led S. C. Bever to bring 
$30,000 in gold, which was invested mostly in city property in Cedar Itapids in 
the early '50s. It was no doubt due to the keenness of mind of the late Judge 
Greene, that John T. Waterhouse in an early day came to Cedar Rapids and 
invest4.'d much money in elioice corner lots on which he erected, for tiiat time, 
modern business l)locks. But outside of a few men. most of the early pioneers 
came to the county without any means. These acquired in the course of a few 
years, large holdings which have since doubled in value several times. Few, if 
any, who invested in real estate in Cedar Rapids and Linn county in an early 
day and who had foresight enough to hold on to it, ever lost anything on such 
investments. Values have gradually increased until comer lots which sold for 
$10 in the earlj- '40s in Cedar Rapids, have now a value of from $2,000 to 
$10,000, and lands in and an>und the city which were disposed of at $5 to $10 an 
acre, have sold at from $250 to $;i00 an acre, and even higher. 

The settlement in Linn county was an event of more or less importance, for 
it was the last stand of the "free hooters," and the last nish for cheap land in 
the Mi.«sissippi valley. The citizens came at an opportune time and took up the 
cheap lands, which soon rose in value. "While during the panic of 1857, many of 
the farmers were unable to pay taxes on their farms and the value of farm 
produce was verj' low, yet they managed to get through. The panic of 1873 was 
not so disastrous on the farmers of Iowa, because by that time they had acquired 
more property and could afford to hold their stuff longer than in the panic of 
1857, The land values stood still for awhile, but soon they began to move again 
and the farmer who had paid for an eighty-acre strip of land generally pur- 
chased another eighty or two, as he had plenty of help and the banks were willing 
to loan him the mone.v. This land has more than doubled in the past twenty 
years, but the value of a season 's crop now, as compared to forty years ago, has 
also more than doubled. 

Ellas Doty, the son of an old pioneer, contribntes the following items re- 
garding Westport : 

"The first squatter town in Linn county was "Westport, situated on the east 
bank of the Cedar river, near a spring three-fourths of a mile below the mouth 
of Indian creek. In 1845 its buildings consisted of one double log cabin, one 
frame dwelling, one frame storehouse, and one frame grain elevator. My father 
occupied the storehouse as a pottery, where he made earthenware. The elevator 
was owned by Robert Holmes and occupied by IT. G. Iligley and Lawson Daniels, 
who bought wheat and built flatboats to float it to the St. Louis market. Our 
family were the only dwellers at the town at that time. Iligley and Daniels 
boarded with us. They built their boats bottom up and when completed turned 
them over. 

"Jacob Leabo lived a half mile below us. and Hiram Deem a half mile above 
us. I. 'W\ Carroll and C. C. Cook lived at Dairy Dale, where they had started a 
brick kiln, which was the first in the county so far as I know. The first lime 
kiln was at "Westport, where John Ilenn.' burned lime to plaster the houses of the 
town. The saw mill of the county at that time was near Bertram. It was 
started by my uncle, Elias Doty, who was killed at its raising in 1841. It was 
finished by James Briney. " 



328 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

EARLY HOTELS IN CEDAR RAPIDS 

"While the Shepherd Tavern was the first place where strangers could be 
entertained in Cedar Rapids, it was not long till several hotels were started. 
"It has always been a hotel town," said an old settler, "for the reason that when 
people came "here they liked it so well that they did not care to move and tiiey 
stayed at the tavern as long as money and credit held out." 

John Young, who held a claim near Shepherd, erected a small house on Fourth 
avenue close to the river, which became known as the " Astor House." This was 
a double log house, 18x26, and one story high, according to the testimony of 
Robert Ellis, George R. Carroll, and others. This building had several additions 
built to it during the next five years. A Mr. Verbeck, a native of Vermont, 
was one of the early landlords. This house was occupied by J. L. Shearer, John 
Weare, James Hamilton, and .several other well known pioneer families. The 
Listebargers kept a sort of hotel near the Sinclair ice houses in 1839-40, and here 
Robert Ellis and several other unmarried men boarded. The Listebargers did 
not keep strangers, only regular boarders. 

Wm. Dwj-er erected a real up-to-date hotel in 1847, as it was said there was a 
demand for such a building. It received the name of the Union House, with 
Jas. Gunning as the first landlord. It was located on Third avenue and Third 
street, near the present site of the Montrose Hotel. It was well spoken of and 
much patronized. The building was destroyed by fire in 1865. The American 
House and Greene's Hotel, both on First street, were well known places, sought 
by the traveling public. Greene's Hotel was for years one of the leading hotels 
in Iowa, a four-stoi-y building on the corner of First avenue and First street 
where political rallies were held and banquets were served, and where balls oc- 
curred during the winter seasons. 

The old Southern or Brown's Hotel was for many years one of the leading 
hotels. It is still operated under the name of Gorman's Hotel. The old Empire 
House was another hotel which in the early fifties was a place much frequented 
by the commercial traveler. It stood on the comer of Third avenue and Sec- 
ond street. Johnson's Hotel, on the west side, formerly Kingston Hotel, was also 
a well known place of entertainment. On the site of what is now the Cedar 
Rapids House there was operated for many yeare a popular little hotel which was 
always full to overflowing. One of the old clerks here used to reply to the fel- 
low who asked if they were full, "The clerk is, but the house never, come in." 
Many of the pioneer "travelers, who wanted to cross Dave King's ferry, came to 
stay over night at this place. The river traffic increased hotel trade, so did the 
gold craze in California, but in 1859, when the railroads reached Cedar Rapids, 
every other home was turned into a rooming house to accommodate the traveling 
public. 

The Grand, the Clifton, Palace Hotel, the Pullman, were for years busy 
places, till the Delevan, the Allison, and the Montrose were built. 

A city is largely known by its hotels, as the word is generally passed along 
by the traveling men. Cedar Rapids stands well in the state as a hotel center. 

In the Wolfe Directory for 1868 the following hotels are given Cedar Rapids: 
American House. G. E. Cheny; Chicago Hoxise, Nick Pitting: Dubuque House, 
Anton Christie; Eagle Hotel. R. E. Baldwin; Empire House, J. L. Peak; Valley 
City House, Harvey & Sherund; Kingston Hotel, William Friis; Dubuque 
House; National Hotel, Humphrey & Bean. 

BUSINESS IN 1856 

From 1850 to I860 Cedar Rapids had a marvelous growth, despite the panic 
of 1857 which wiped out some of the fortunes of those who had invested heavily 




PART OF ZOO IN BEVER I'AKK. CKOAK KAPIDS 




A SCENE IN BEVER PARK. CEDAR RAPIDS 



CEDAR RAPIDS 329 

in wild lands and who had engaged in haukiug. The Voice of Iowa, u local news- 
paper, ha-s the following to say of the wealth of the city's business enterprises: 

Flouring mills, four; planing mills, sash, doors and blinds, two; cooper, one; 
wagon and carriage factories, five; iron foundry, one; cabinet and chair factories, 
two; plow fiwtories, three; boot and shoe factories, three; saddle and harness 
factories, throe; tin, copper and sheet iron workers, four; wixilcn factorj', one; 
brick yards, five; farm implement fa<'tories. two; merchant tailors, two; wood- 
working, two; newspapers, thn-e; brick mfu-hine factory, one; grocery and pro- 
vision sttires. eight; dry goods, fifteen ; clothing, five; drug stores, four; jewelers, 
two; hardware, four; book stores, two; book i)inder>'. one; li(iuor and cigars, six; 
public halls, five; hotels, five: churches, four; lumber yards, four; bakery, one; 
banks, tiiree; barber, one; iniblic reading nwm, one. The same issue of the 
paper cites that the town should luivc a pork packing (ihuit as well as a paper 
mill. It took a long time before the T. M. Sinclair Company's plant bwame an 
assured reality, which has become in time such a factor in the upbuilding of 
Cedar Rapids and Linn county. 

The following list of business firms in Cedar Rapids in 1856 is of interest: 

Drj' Goods Stores — Shattuck & Dewey, Commercial street; L. Daniels & 
Co., Commercial street; C. E. Livingston, Carpenter's block, Commercial street; 
Partridge & Cook. Commercial street; Leach & Wood, corner of Washington and 
Eagle streets; Elder & JlcCIelland, corner Iowa avenue and Commercial street. 

Grocery Stores — C. W. Steljbins, corner Front street and Iowa avenue, Kings- 
ton; A. C. Keyes, Carpenter's block, Commercial street; Bever & Rowley, Com- 
mercial street ; J. H. Atwell, Commercial street. 

Clothing Stores — David Kahn, Commercial street; Bangs & Bixby, Com- 
mercial street. 

Hardware Stores — Rock & Camp, Commercial street; C. P. Spaethe, Com- 
mercial street; A. H. Brown & Co.. Commercial street. 

Drug Stores — J. P. Conkey, Xo. 3. Commercial block; James L. Enos, No. 4. 
Iowa avenue. 

Jewelry Stores — J. T. Walker, Commercial street; L. H. Keyes, Commercial 
street. 

Book Stores — James L. Enos, No. '4, Iowa avenue. 

Banking Houses — Greene & Weare, Commercial street; Ward. Bryan & Co., 
Commercial street; W. A. Dodge, Carr & Co., Commercial street. 

Land and General Agency Offices --Whittam & Bolt, Commercial street; 
Bates & Tousley, Commercial street ; Carpenter, Lehman & Co., Commercial 
street; H. Mount & Co.. Washington street. 

I<\irniture Ware Rooms — John Boyce, Iowa avenue; J. .Mloway, Commercial 
street. 

Builders. Joiners. Etc. — W. D. Watrous, desicner and builder. Carpenter's 
block; Smith & Williams, S on Madison. W on Washington street; Elihu Robbins, 
residence Washington street: Hyatt & Moore, shop on Commercial street. 

Blacksmith Shop and Plow Factorj- — Stephen L. Pollock, Linn street. 

Lumber Yard — Charles & Carroll, Commercial street. 

Carriage .Manufacturers — Roswell Tibbetts, Benton street. West side; J. M 
Chambers, Linn street. 

I^Iotols — Empire Hou.'se, W. M. McMahon, comer Washington and Market 
street*; Greene's Hotel, Coffman & Smith. Commercial street; Rapids Hotel. 

Insurance Agents — S. C. Bever. Franklin and Marine; E. N. Bato«. Hart- 
ford Fire; J. L. Enns. Iowa Insurance Co.. Oskaloosa. 

Baken,' and Restaurant — Alexander Clinton, Commercial street; Walter D. 
Thompson, No. 6 South Commercial street. 



330 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Millinery — Mrs. E. A. Emery, Brown's block, Kingston; Miss Mary E. 
Stewart, Rapids Hotel. 

Physicians — S. C. Koontz, ofiSce Carpenter's block; J. H. Cambum, resi- 
dence Washington street; "W. D. Barclay, residence Iowa avenue; J. W. Edes, 
residence Washin^on street; Smith & Larrabee, office Commercial street; R. R. 
Taylor, office Carpenter's block; H. Mount, oculist, "Washington street; McCauley 
& Pulsifer, dentists, Commercial street. 

Attorneys and Coimsellors — James J. Child, Commercial street; Bates & 
Tousley, Commercial street ; Henry Lehman, Commercial street ; D. M. Mcintosh, 
Commercial street. 

Nurseries — Central Iowa Nursery, J. B. Gate, proprietor, on west side, near 
city. Was established 1853. Mound Nursery, George Greene, proprietor, two 
miles north of the city. 

Planing Mill — Alexander Hager, shop 45x50 feet, two engines, one of nine 
and the other of twenty-four horsepower. Capital invested in plant and machin- 
ery, $10,000. 

Lumber Mills — Greene & Graves, located at upper end of city. iMill 40x50 
feet, two stories high; engine house, 24x60 feet, one story high. Had capacity 
of 5,000 feet of lumber per day, with lath, shingles, etc., in proportion. This 
establishment also included a machine shop 35x70 feet, three stories high ; foun- 
dry of brick, 30x60 feet, and a brick blacksmith and plow shop 25x35 feet. Cap- 
ital invested, $25,000. J. J. Snouffer, one saw, cutting 200,000 feet of lumber 
during three months, ending June 30, 1856. A circular saw for plow beams, 
wagon felloes, etc. 

Saw Mill and Chair Factory — Dobbs & Dewey, capacity 10,000 feet of lum- 
ber a week. During year had turned out 8,000 chairs, 1,000 bedsteads and other 
articles. Fifteen hands employed. Capital, $12,000. 

Churches — Presbyterian (Old School), Rev. R. H. Morrow, pastor. Wor- 
ships in Daniels' Hall. Subscription of $2,700 secured for a building, which 
with site is expected to cost $3,500. Membership, 46. Episcopal, Rev. S. Starr, 
rector. Church a fine structure and furnished in the neatest manner. Meth- 
odist Episcopal, destitute of pastor temporarily. More than one himdred mem- 
bers ; largest congregation in city ; more than 150 in attendance at Sabbath 
school. Baptist, West Side, Rev. J. Woodward, pastor. Temporary edifice to 
be erected present season. Membership between thirty and fort}'. Presbyter- 
ian (New School), Rev. L. F. Dudley, pastor. Church building small; was first 
to be erected in the city. AflJairs in a flourishing condition. Presbyterians 
(Seceders), Rev. J. H. Sturgeon, pastor. Church edifice just erected and pews 
sold. 

Secret Societies — Cedar Rapids Lodge No. 25, A. F. & A. M. (organized 
1850), Hiram Deem, W. M. ; Isaac N. Whittam, secretary. Meets first Monday 
after new moon. Hope Lodge No. 201, I. 0. 0. F., organized 1851. Hiram 
Deem, N. G. ; Joseph G. Davenport, secretary. Meets every Tuesday evening. 

Select Schools — Misses Farnham, in rooms under the Episcopal church ; Miss 
H. Latshaw, on Washington street. 

Buildings Erected in Year — William Stewart, brick store, one story; R. C. 
Rock, brick store, three stories; J. F. Ely, two brick stores, three stories; A. 
Hager, machine shop, brick, three stories ; Gabriel Carpenter, three stores, brick, 
four stories ; S. C. Bever, store, brick, three stories ; H. G. Angle, store, brick front, 
two stories; Bates & Tousley, banking house, brick, three stories; Shattuck & 
Dewey, two stores, three stories ; P. W. Earle, store, three stories above basement ; 
S. L. Pollock, addition to plow factory; Greene & Graves, stone machine shop, 
three stories; Greene & Graves, blacksmith shop and foundry; public school 
building, brick, three stories. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 331 

Brick Dwellings — F. A. Lee, William Greene, James Bates, B. E. Baker, 
W. & S. Johnson, Elihu Robbins (two), M. Ohler, Ezra Havens, H. G. Angle, 
Watrous & Uillett, A. Whitcnsat-k. 

Frame Dwellings — II. Kiefensthall, W. W. Smith, John Graves, Lowell Dan- 
iels, G. W. Westlako, H. L. Bryan, A. J. Reed, P. W. Rooder, \V. Ilarvoy. Henry 
Ward, S. A. Shattuck, D. S. Bryan, G. Dewey, Rev. Samuel Starr, Freeman 
Smith, — Jordan, J. Crabil, Mary Lucore, Mr. McDougal, Mary Clark, Mr. Coon, 
Mr. Seabury. 

As yet, however, the improvements were eonfined to but a small portion of the 
present city. Iowa (First) avenue had been used as a sand bank, at the conven- 
ience of builders, and being left in ridges and hollows was impa.ssable to trams. 
Lot owners on Eagle street (Second avenue) were urged to cut out the under- 
brush in the street so that wagons might pass, and thus that section of the city 
become attractive for residences. 

From Wolfe's Business Directory for 1869 we may note a few of the business 
houses and professional men. 

Agricultural Implements— Averill & Hamilton, A. C. Churchill, Fleck & 
Dorwart, Iligley Bros., Patterson & Co., F. J. Upton. 

Ammunition — J. A. Nye. 

Architect — S. S. Spaulding. 

Attorneys — Boyd & Smith, J. J. Child, Craft & Sosel, A. V. Eastman, R. H. 
Gilmore. II. II. Gray, Hubbard & Belt, J. \V. Leslie, M. P. Mills, A. St. C. Smith, 
O. 0. Stanchfield, I. N. Whittam. 

Baker— P. Seitz. 

Banks — City National, First National. 

Bankers — Carpenter, Stibbs & Co. 

Barbers — Brown & Bolin, W. K. Harris, Lightenberg & Reiss. 

Billiard Halls— F. "Witousek, D. T. "Williams. 

Blank Book Makers — J. C. Stoddard, C. Barthel, S. B. Carl, Cook & Funk, 
J. E. Davis. R. H. Dutton. C. Everlien, C. A. Files, J. Hough, A. S. Mershon, 
J. M. Nell, Delia Rudolph, L. Turner. 

Book and Job Printers — Ayers Bros., W. A. Ballard. 

Book Stores — E. R. Derby," J. G. CJraves, F. G. Bennett. 

Boot and Shoe Dealers — E. R. Bradford, J. Gates, McClelland Bros., J. B. 
Morrison, P. Necomb, A. G. Plumb, 0. Robinson, C. Tomasek T. S. Wilson, 
J. Wolfe. 

Brewers — C. Magnus, owner of the Eagle Brewery, Will Williams, Cedar 
Rapids Brewery, owned by Joe Schneider. 

Carpenters — Boss & Gray, M. J. Bourne, M. Moore, Null & DeCamp, W. 
Richmond, S. S. Spalding, J. M. Waldt. 

Carpets — L N. Isham, J. Bell & Co., P. Newcomb. 

Clothing — Arnold & Loucheim, Arnold & Levi, Jackson & Lincoln, Otto Co., 
R. B. Tomlinson, J. Wiener. 

Commission Merchants — H. Ij. Bryan, Charles & Carroll, C. H. Hall, R. L. 
Porter, J. J. Snouffer & Co. 

Dentists — E. Ebi, A. K. Miner. 

Drugs — G. C. Haman, J. C. May, L. R/ith. A. II. Taylor, W. L. Weller, 
Wetberby & Bowen. 

Flour Mills — Aetna Mills, by J. J. Snouffer & Co., Cedar Rapids Flouring 
Mills. W. B. Leach & Co., Union Mills, by W. S. Cooper. 

Grocers — O. B. Coe, Anderson & Pettincor, Al .lacohs, P. G. Garret, TTilde- 
bnind & Lansing, A. C. Keyes, P. Kcech, W. Lench. C. L. Lutz, Sam Neidig, 
G. Parr. F. Plucshel. P. Seitz, J. B. Spry, J. H. Stibbs, T. S. Wilson, J. J. Witwer, 
Wood & Wolcott. 



332 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Six hotels on the east side, and several on the west side, known as Kingston. 

The doctors were — C. F. Bullen, J. H. Cambum, G. P. Carpenter, J. P. 
Coulter, J. W. Edes, Mansfield & Smith, F. McClelland, J. North, Israel Snyder. 
C. H. Thompson, W. Bolinger. 

The live real estate agents were — Carpenter, Stibbs & Co., B. H. Gilmore, 
St. Clair Smith, 0. 0. Stanchfield, West & Eastman. 

There were about twenty saloons operated. 

The wagon makers were — R. C. Hall, John Hesse, Jos. Hrbek, John Mehan, 
Star Wagon Co., run by Upton, Chambers & Co. 

Kingston also boasted of two blacksmith shops, one boarding house, three 
hotels, several grocers, wagon makers, lumber dealers, etc. The population of 
Kingston as given by this directory was 300. 

LINN COUNTY STATISTICS FOR 1 856 

General Figures — Number of dwelling houses, 2,518 ; number of families, 
2,612; number of males, 7,911; number of females, 6,791; colored, 6; married, 
5,110; widowed, 307; native voters, 2,946; naturalized voters, 236; aliens, 215; 
militia, 2,795; deaf and dumb, none; blind, 1; insane, 1; idiotic, 14; owners of 
land, 1.824; paupers, 3; total population of county, 14,792. 

Agricultural Statistics — Acres of land improved, 66,132; acres of land 
unimproved, 155,991 ; acres of meadow, 3,871 ; tons of hay, 8,551 ; bushels of grass 
seed, 306 ; acres spring wheat, 14,739 ; bushels harvested, 212,573 ; acres winter 
wheat, 249 ; bushels harvested, 1,532 ; acres oats, 5,854 ; bushels harvested, 180,- 
674; acres corn, 24,251; bushels harvested, 1,025,375. 

Live Stock Figures — Number hogs sold, 16,905; value of hogs sold, $127,942; 
number of cattle sold, 3,284 ; value of cattle sold, $79,273. 

Farm Products — Pounds butter made, 153,646 ; pounds of wool sold, 14,143 ; 
pounds of cheese sold, 25.506; value of domestic manufactures, $7,269; value of 
general manufactures, 212,795. 

Nativity of population — Ohio, 3,758; Indiana, 1,320; Pennsylvania, 1,914; 
Iowa, 2,770; New York, 1.209; Maine, 111; New Hampshire, 83; Vermont, 189; 
Massachusetts, 188; Connecticut, 124; Rhode Island, 7; Virginia, 436; Kentucky, 
242 ; Illinois, 453 ; Michigan, 87 ; Alabama, 1 ; Louisiana, 2 ; Mississippi, 4 ; North 
Carolina, 59; South Carolina, 23; Tennessee, 55; Missouri, 40; Georgia. 2; Mary- 
land, 208; New Jersey, 178; Wisconsin, 51; Delaware, 10; England, 166; Ireland, 
204; Wales, 4; Scotland, 72; Germany, 278; France, 11; Austria, 36; Russia. 
Prussia, 5; Norway, 16; Sweden, 2; Holland, 2; on the ocean, 1; Canada, 161 
New Brunswick, 11; Switzerland, 6; Denmark. 1; West Indies, 2; Bohemia, 139 
Nova Scotia, 52; Prince Edward Island, 8; District of Columbia, 4; Poland, 1 
Moravia, 6 ; Hiuigary, 5 ; Unlmown, 1. 

From "Historical Sketch of the City," in the Cedar Rapids Directory for 
1870-71, we cull the following: 

"During the year 1838 the first land claim was made by a certain Wm. Stone 
on what constituted the present sit« of Cedar Rapids. This was not the first 
claim made, however, as John Mann, Esq., had the honor of being the first settler 
in the county, having located at Pine Grove in the earlj' part of the same year. 

"The attention of the early pioneers being drawn to the manufacturing re- 
sources of the county, the present site was early chosen as most suitable for a 
city, as the swift current of the river at this place would afford, in all proba- 
bility, a valuable and extensive water-power. In 1841 the town was laid out, and 
within a short time thereafter the improvement of the water-power was com- 
menced. The land lying along the margin of the river and commanding the 



CEDAR RAPIDS 333 

water privileges was soon purchaied by Messrs. N. B. Brown, George Greene, 
H. \V. Gray, and others, wlio early eoraraeneed the construction of the dam and 
the building of those mills and manufactories which have since been the pride 
of the city and which have contributed so much to its permanent growth and 
development. 

"N. B. Brown, Esq., has added an attractive feature to the city by erecting 
a costly and elegant hotel on North Commercial street, which, when finished, will 
be one of the finest west of Chicago. In addition to these, the building of the 
mammoth machine shops of the Burlington, Cedar Kapids and Minnesota R. R. 
Company is shortly contemplated. This will involve an expense of several hun- 
dred thousand dollars, for which purpose fifty thousand dollars have been appro- 
priated to the company by this city and township. 

" . . . As to educational interests Cedar Rapids has maintained a high 
position among her sister cities of the state. It is generally conceded that Iowa is 
the banner stale of the Union, regarding her system of free schools and the ad- 
vantages derived therefrom. This city has no less than thirty-five thousand dol- 
lars in .sT'hool buildings, including the one recently built in West Cedar Rapids. 
The schools are classified and graded under the latest improved system, and are 
presided over by an able corps of teachers, chosen with special reference to their 
attainments and adaptation to impart instruction. James E. Harlan has at 
present the entire superintendence of the schools, and by his efficiency he is main- 
taining the high reputation which the schools have before sustained. Over 
thirteen hundred pupils are in constant attendance, and the number is yearly 
increasing. 

"... The Young Men's Christian Association deserves even more than 
a passing notice. The rooms of the Association are in Mansfield's Block, over the 
postofiice, and are opened each morning and evening through the week. 

"... The Young Men's Library Association is also a pleasant feature 
of the city. The enterprise has established a choice and well selected library, 
consisting of historic, scientific, poetic and biographic works, chosen from the 
best avithors in the land. The library rooms are in charge of Mi.ss Mary Thomp- 
son, a lady of rare grace and culture, who takes delight in entertaining her guests 
and e.xhibiting the many works of interest that adorn the shelves of her library. 

" ... The social, moral and religious elements blend here in sweet har- 
mony, and much of the refinement and culture witnessed in eastern cities and in 
eastern society is equally exhibited here; hence to those wishing to settle in a 
place combining the advantaces of church, schools and refined societ>', as well 
as a place of good business facilities will find Cedar Rapids a desirable city in 
which to locate. We venture the assertion that Cedar Rajiids, in the future as 
in the past, is destined to excel, in wealth and numbers, her neighboring rivals, 
and evermore sit as queen in the rich valley she so beautifully adorns." 

The following obituary appeared in the Cedar Rapids Gazette in March, 1909, 
and gives a sketch of a person who had pa-ssed through much of what is now the 
histf)r>- of a thriving city, and is for that reason made part of the history of the 
county. Mrs. Bn>wn was at her death the widow of one of the foremost men 
who ever lived in Cedar Rapids. 

"Susan Emery, daughter of Nathan Emery and Conielia Broadhead, his 
wife, was bom August 19, 1S24. at Dingman's Ferry, Pike county. Pennsylvania, 
and died March 4, 1909, at Cedar Rapids. Iowa, thus having lived 84 years, 6 
months and 15 days, a period of time much longer than the avenige allotted to 
miu}kind. A woman in her younger days of a noble, perhaps an imperious 
presence, strong in mental and physical make-up; self-reliant and unswerving in 



334 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

the object sought to be attained by her. Strong in likes and dislikes, no tmer, 
more loyal friend among manlcind than she. She came of a long-lived, stubborn 
warrior race. Through her mother, Cornelia Broadhead, she was descended from 
Daniel Broadhead, a Yorkshire Englishman, a captain of Grenadiers, who fought 
for Charles the Second during the civil wars of England, and by him was com- 
missioned to serve under Colonel NichoUs in the expedition to the new world to 
wrest New Netherlands from the Dutch, that the same might become a new world 
kingdom for James, duke of York, brother to the king. 

"Captain Broadhead was made military governor of a portion of New Nether- 
lands, with his headquarters at the old Indian town of Wiltwyck, called by 
the Hollanders Esophus and after the English occupation named and 
is still known as Kingston, in the state of New York. Captain Broadhead died in 
1670. A grandson, Daniel by name, in 1733 migrated through the wilderness, 
down through the Jerseys to the water gap and located there. lie with his sons 
refused to be driven out of the country and off his possessions by the sava^ea 
during the Indian wars and fought for what they considered their own and won 
out. From this Daniel were descended three revolutionary soldiers — General 
Daniel Broadhead, a noted Indian fighter and close friend of George Washington; 
Luke Broadhead, a captain and friend of LaFayette, and Garret Broadhead, a 
captain. John Romeyn Broadhead, the historian, was of this family of 
Broadheads. From this it will be seen that Susan Brown came from no mean 
stock. In her younger days she was kno^\Ti to be generous and charitable to 
any worthy poor. Her giving was of the quiet and unostentatious kind, and to 
a considerable extent. This trait of character remained with her through her 
old age. She was a woman of strict integrity, spotless purity, and the world and 
community in which she lived was undoubtedly the gainer for her having lived 
in it. In 1852 she was married to her kinsman, Nicholas Broadhead Brown 
(a pioneer of 1840), coming immediately with her husband and sister, Mrs. Han- 
nah E. Higle.v, to Cedar Rapids and has remained here continuously from that 
time, thus making her, with possibly one or two exf'eptions. at the time of her death, 
the oldest continuous resident of this city. In laying the foundation and the 
early upbuilding of this city were a number of potent and conspicuous men and 
women, such as George Greene, Alexander Ely, Addison Daniels, and others, but 
none more so than Nicholas B. Brown and his wife Susan." 

It is entirely proper to make some mention in these pages of Captain Joshua 
John Snouffer, who came to Cedar Rapids in 1852 when the city contained less 
than 400 people. He too had an intimate knowledge of what it meant to be a 
pioneer. 

Captain Snouffer was bom in Maryland February 24, 1825, and though he 
was a loyal citizen of Iowa he never ceased to love his native state, nor did he 
ever forget its history, its traditions, and its people. He entered the Mexican 
war where he was wounded in the head on the field of battle on November 9, 
1847. This wound troubled him all the remaining days of his life. At the time 
he was wounded he was first sergeant of a company of dragoons, and on several 
occasions had commanded a company. 

As a member of the firm of W. D. Watrons & Company he was closely identi- 
fied with the milling industry of Cedar Rapids. He superintended the erection 
of "the brick mill" in 1875. "With J. J. Child he was the joint author of the 
city's charter. He took an active part in the building of the Iowa & Nebraska 
Railroad, now the Northwestern. He was a prime mover in establishing the 
water works, and was one of those who gave the city its first street railway. At 
various times he was a member of the city government both as alderman and 
mayor. He was a skilled parliamentarian, and an honest man in every sense of 
the word. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 335 

CEDAR RAPIDS TODAY 
W. I. Endicott, in The Saturday Record, July 10, 1909: 

Cedar Rapids has had a civic existence since January 15, 1849, on which date 
a town clwrlcr was adopted and town oflicers elected. In 18.3() a new citv 
charter was granted by the legislature and under that charter the afTairs of the 
city were conducted until April 6, 1908, when the charter was al.andoncd and 
tlie city went under what is known as the "Commission Plan." I'nder the nro- 
visions of this law ail ward lines and divisions were al.olished and five men -a 
mayor and four councilmen or commissioners are elected at lar^e. In the hands 

offidaTstJ r? .'r '^'"'"'^ '" -''^""/ibility for the appointment^of the entire ei?y 
otncial staff and tlic management of city afTairs. 

The new plan is working in a most satisfactory manner in Cedar Rapids and 
m^f .S^.k"^ ,T^ accomplished under it that were impossible of accomplish- 
ment under the old ward system. The improvements under way are all planned 

S seJtir \T'r' T'^'''' ^"^ '''' I'armonious building up'of Uie city in lu 
ite sections. Modern business methods are in use in the conduct of the city's 
mTMe"^ «"i|,»"^^''^« .7 extravagant expenditure of the public money is not per- 

tran'act w h t^' ""'f "'■"■'•' '''''' ^V '""^ '^' '^'^'^-^" ^^'h" has busines? to 
transact uith the council is given instant hearing and attention 

^'i'l'^ann'"' '"'''n*'"' ""^'T ''"/"''^ ^ ''''^'^ "^ ^'-^^^ """^ each of the council- 
men $h800 anniially, and they devote full time and attention to the work of the 
city. The city s busine.«^s is divided into departments and each mm is in 
charge of and responsible for a certain department. The mavor is head of the 
department of Public Affairs and as such, exercises a general supervision over 
all pha.-es ot the city business. Then there are the departments of Accounts and 
Finances, the department of Public Safety, the department of Streets and Public 
Improvements, and the department of Parks and Public Property. The men 
elected have first to be successful in a wide open primarv and then in the rccrular 
city election secure a ma.iority of all the votes cast. In the election of 1908 there 
iTnlw '""'''^f ^''^ f""" councilman and nine candidates for mavor on the primary 
nfnvn A^ -'t °''"?^' ^^^ *"■" '^h" received the highest number of votes for 
we^P deHnJ^^r'^ •'^" received the highest number of votes for councilman 
r^^tJnn Ik """I'nees and their names appeared on the ballot at the regular 

f,w T\ "uZ^ appearing in alphabetical order m both the primary and reg- 
ular election ballot*, and without any party or other designation 

In 1908 the council accomplished the sale of the old ci?y hall site and the pur- 
chase of May s Island for park and public buildings purposes This island has 
an area of about six acres, and lying in the Cedar river in the ver^• center of the 
city, forms an ideal place for a civic center. The citv offices are now occupying 
temporary quarters on the island and as rapidly as "possible the low places are 
being filled with dirt from the various evcavaf inns for business buildings and from 
other sources, so that what was once a municipal disgrace, is being rapidly trans- 
formed into a place of beauty, to say nothing of forever setting at rest any possi- 
bility of divisive strife between the two sides of the river. 

THE CITY'S ASSETS 

The public improvements of the city of Cedar Rapids represent expendi- 
tures running into the millions of dollars. Few cities of like size are so thoroiio-hlv 
or excellently paved. On the first of January, 1909. the city had three mile's of 
asphalt, twenty miles of brick, and five miles of macadam paving, or a total of 
twenty-eipht miles. There are now under constnution, or already completed on 
contracts carried over from 1908. two miles of brick and one mile of tar treated 
macadam, gi%nng Cedar Rapids at the present time thirtv-one miles of pannjr 



336 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The contracts let for 1909 will add more than five miles to that total, so the city 
will have approximately thirty-six miles of paving at the end of the present 
year. 

Sidewalks are practically all of cement construction and laid under city 
supervision. On January 1, 1909, there were more than 102 miles of walk in the 
city, and of this more than ninety-six miles were of cement, nearly four miles of 
brick or stone and only about two miles of wooden construction. The contracts 
let for this season will represent the construction of about eight miles of walks, 
giving the city a total of 110 miles of sidewalks. 

Cedar Rapids has two systems of sewers, sanitary and storm water. Some of 
the storm water sewers are of large size, being seven feet in diameter, and one — 
the Vinton ditch sewer, is even larger. 

Cedar Rapids has an excellent fire department, equipped with the best of 
apparatus. There are five stations — one central station and four outlying hose 
houses. 

In the matter of parks the city has made a most promising start. There are 
now in the city twenty-eight parks, counting large and small and not including 
any street parkways. Of this number Bever Park, Ellis Park, Daniels Park, 
May's Island Park, Riverside Park, and Whittam Park are considerable tracts, 
while Greorge Greene Square, opposite the union station, with its beautiful display 
of flowers and rich green lawn, is one of the show spots of the city. Bever Park, 
the largest of the parks, in the woods to the east of the city, was the gift of James 
L. Bever, George W. Bever, and John B. Bever, as a memorial to their father, 
Sampson C. Bever, who was one of the pioneers of the city. Bever Park is flanked 
one side by picturesque Vernon Heights and on the other by beautiful Ridgewood, 
forming an almost continuous park of great extent and beauty. Daniels Park is 
the newest of the city parks. It is located on the Old JIarion Road and has been 
transformed into a beautiful floral park, with well-arranged walks and driveways. 
Riverside Park is the close-in park, being located on the bank of the river south 
of Eleventh avenue, and this has been made a play park, with plenty of out-door 
gymnasium apparatus for the children and young people. Ellis Park, located 
on the river bank above the city, is one of the most beautiful and attractive of all 
the parks, and when adequate means of reaching it are installed, it will without 
question be one of the most popular parks in the city. The river with its excel- 
lent boating facilities, gives a charm to Ellis Park that is denied the other breathing 
places of the city. The city of Cedar Rapids is spending more tlian twenty 
thousand dollars each year on its park system, and it is money well spent. There 
are about two hundred acres in the park system, and a conservative value of the 
park grounds and improvements is well over $300,000. 

The Free Public Library is a most valuable asset to the city and aside from 
the unmeasurable good done in the dissemination of knowledge, represents a 
money investment of well toward $150,000. The building proper was the gift of 
Mr. Carnegie and cost .$75,000, the grounds and other items and the contents of 
the library will add another $75,000 to the valuation. It is supported by a city 
tax and costs about $12,000 per year to operate. Its atfairs are in charge of a 
board of trustees, appointed by the council. 

The city o^vns and maintains five bridges across the Cedar river. Of these 
bridges four are of steel construction and one — the Second avenue bridge — is a 
magnificent reinforced concrete bridge of Jlelan arch design. This bridge is one 
of the best and most attractive in the middle west. Its cost was more than 
$100,000. 

[The city contracted in 1909-10 a new concrete bridge to replace the old steel 
bridge on Sixteenth avenue at a cost of $80,000. It is 40 feet wide and 2,600 feet 
long, and was opened for traffic January, 1910. A new concrete bridge will he 
contracted in 1911 at Third avenue to replace one of the oldest in the city.] 




SIXTEENTH AVENUE BRIDGE, CEDAR RAPIDS 




FIKST STKKKT, COKNKK SECOND AVENUE, IN ISt.M 



CEDAR RAPIDS 337 

The city water works are owned by the city of Cedar Rapids, and are managed 
by three trustees appointed by the council. The plant was purchased from the 
water company July 1, 1903, at an agreed price of $47;iU00. Of this amount, 
$23,000 was paid in cash and the remainder was put in the form of bonds. In the 
past six years $158,000 of these bonds have been retired, leaving a net indebted- 
ness against the water plant of $31.5,000. The net earnings of the plant from July 
1, 1903, to July 1, 1908. were $79,952.30, and for the year ending July 1, 1909. 
were almost $25,000. In addition the city gets free hydrant rental and fire pro- 
tection. A conservative inventory of the water plant will show a valuation of well 
over $600,000 at the present time. The water is taken from large wells on an 
island in the Cedar river belonging to the city and located some distance above 
the C. & X. W. bridge. It is filtered by the Jewell sj-stem and is forced through 
the mains by largo pumps. There are three of these pumps in use, one of two mil- 
lion gallons daily capacity, one of three million gallons capacity and one of five 
rail ion gallons capiicity. The necessarj' power is supplied by two water tube 
boilers of 350 horsepower each, and three tubular boilers of 70 horsepower each. 
The filter system has a capacity of three million gallons per daj', and an additional 
reservoir for the filter is now under construction. There are at the present time 
.390 tire hydrants and an excellent and satisfactory fire pres.sure is maintained for 
all fire alarms. A loop of twelve-inch nuiins encircles the business district and 
this loop is supplied by a twenty-inch main direct from the pumps, giving the 
business section a fire protection unexcelled by that of any city in the west. 

THE R.\1LWAYS 

Up to 1849 the village of Cedar Rapids had no formal organization. It was 
simply a township. But the legislature of 1849 granted a town cliarter and for 
the next decade the community throve apace. It was during this period of years 
that Cedar Rapids strove for, and secured, its first line of railway. In the fifties 
the railway lines to the west left the bank of the Mississippi and pushed their 
way out into the fertile prairies of Iowa. Among these lines was one known as the 
Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska, and its purpose was to construct a line of railway 
from Clinton, across Iowa, to some point on the Missouri river. 

Among Cedar Rapids men who were prominently identified with the enterprise 
and were on the board of directors were John Weare, Jr., William Greene, II. O. 
Angle and S. C. Bever. The company was organized in 1856, but it was not until 
June, 1859, that the line was completed from Clinton to Cedar Rapids, a distance 
of a little over eishty miles, and train service established between the two towns. 

Previous to the coming of the railroad, communication with the outside world 
was maintained by means of stage lines; Dubuque, Clinton. Davenport, Musca- 
tine, Iowa City, and Waterloo being reached by that method. Freight and sup- 
plies were brought in by wagon, though in the early days there was some steamboat 
traffic on the Cedar river as far as Cedar Rapids. 

It required hard work, and plenty of it, to get that first new line of railway 
into Cedar Rapids. Marion, the old. substantial town and the county seat, 
wanted the road — and came prettj* near getting it. too. The next move in rail- 
way construction work for the community was the extension of the new line west, 
on its way to the Mi.s.souri river, a line which is today the main artery of the 
Chicago & Northwestern system, forming an important part of the great highway 
of steel connecting the Atlantic and Pacific. 

The original promoters of the Chicago. Iowa and Nebraska Railway, living in 
Cedar Rapids, were anxious that that company should build a branch line up 
the Cedar valley from this point, and thus tap the rich and rapidly growing 
territorj- lying to the northwest of Cedjir Rapids. But the company had no time 
or money with which to build side lines or branches. It.s ob.j<>cfiv<' point was the 



338 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Missouri river and the great beyond. So Judge George Greene, S. L. Dows, and 
other prominent public spirited men took up the task of constructing a road from 
Cedar Kapids to Vinton and Waterloo. Burlington capitalists and promoters 
joined in the work of extending the line from Cedar Rapids southeast to Burling- 
ton, and in a few years the embryo of what later became the Burlington, Cedar 
Rapids & Northern, the "Cedar Rapids route," with its lines radiating from 
Cedar Rapids to Clinton, Muscatine, Burlington, What Cheer, Iowa City, Sioux 
Falls, Watertown, Worthington, Forest City, Albert Lea, St. Paul, jMinneapolis, 
and Deeorah, was in existence. The shops, roundhouses and general offices of 
the road were located in Cedar Rapids, and everybody t«ok pride and a personal 
interest in speaking of the institution as the "Home Road." The absorption of 
the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern by the great Rock Island system, thus 
giving Cedar Rapids direct connections with all stations on that road, is a matter 
so recent as to be hardly history as yet. This change has been more in name than 
in reality. The shops are maintained, as in years past. An even larger army 
of trainmen and operative employes make Cedar Rapids their home, and the gen- 
eral offices for the northern district make use of the general office building con- 
structed by the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northen Railway Co. 

Cedar Rapids' third railway enterprise was the securing of the Dubuque & 
Southwestern, locally known as the "Slough Shore," from the manner of its 
entrance into the town. This railway was built and operated by the Farleys, 
father and sons, of Dubuque, and for many yeai-s, with its connection with the 
Illinois Central at Farley, maintained the only line of direct communication be- 
tween Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. In the early days some very peciiliar rail- 
roading was done on the Farley line, and the incidents and happenings, if gathered 
together, would make an extended volume. 

The Dubuque and Southwestern is now a part of the Chicago, Jlilwaukee & 
St. Paul system, and over its tracks trains now run to Chicago, Omaha, Kansas 
City, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, as well as to the original sleepy little terminus 
of Farley. 

The last steam road to enter Cedar Rapids was the Illinois Central, a line 
being constructed from Manchester by the late S. L. Dows. This line opens up to 
the shippers and business men of Cedar Rapids direct connections with the 
Illinois Central, and is of peculiar value in the traffic in southern and tropical 
fruits and commodities which come by water to New Orleans. 

More recently the interurbau between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City has been 
constructed, and with its hourly service it has won a business which makes certain 
the building of other and equally as promising lines in the near future. 

Cedar Rapids of 1909. from a railroad point of view, is the traffic pivot of the 
middle west. Centering here are four of the largest railway .systems of the 
country — the Chica-go & Northwestern, the Chicago, Jlilwaukee & St. Paul, the 
Rock Island, and the Illinois Central. From Cedar Rapids direct lines radiate 
to Chicago, Peoria. St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Council Bhiffs, Omalia, 
Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Watertown. Minneapolis. St. Paul, and Milwaukee, the 
total mileage of the lines entering Cedar Rapids being about 35,000 miles. Di- 
rect service is maintained between Cedar Rapids and nearly 1,750 stations in 
Iowa, to say nothing of the thousands of stations in other and surroimding states 
reached by direct train service from this eity. More than 225 railway and inter- 
urban trains arrive in or depart from Cedar Rapids daily. Approximately 80,000 
carloads of freight are handled annually. The freight earnings are about 
$3,500,000 and the passenger receipts are about .$1,200,000 each year. Three 
express companies, the American, the United States, and the Wells-Fargo, main- 
tain offices in Cedar Rapids. 

Recognizing the future of Cedar Rapids as a railroad, manufacturing and 
distributing center, the railroads have all been expending vast sums of money in 



CEDAR RAPIDS 339 

the past few years in the acquisition of property for terminal purposes. The 
Chicafro, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Illinois Central, and the R'«'k Island now 
control absolutely the entire Fcction of the city lyinR between Fifth and Ninth 
avenues, the river and Third street, and it is only fair to presume that the four 
blocks between Third and Fourth streets and Fifth and Ninth avenues will also 
be devoted exclusively to railway purposes. South of the city, along the river 
bank, the Chicajro & Northwestern is expending thousands of dollars in the filling 
in of a large section of low land and old river bed, and on this made ground new 
and enlarged terminals and switch yards will he built. 

The Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific is now eneaged in the construction of its 
new terminals and frcicrht depot on the blw'ks lying between Second and Third 
streets and Fifth and Ninth avenues, and when completed these terminals and 
depot will be ample for the accommodation of a freight business of a city of 
hundreds of thousands of population. 

In the matter of passenger travel the city is well accommodated in the two 
depots, both on Fourth street, one occupied by the Chicago & Northwestern and 
the Rock Island, and known as the I'nion station, and the other occupied jointly 
by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Illinois Central lines. 

Mention must also be made of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City interurban 
line, which maintains an excellent hourly service between the two cities. This 
line of road is the pioneer in the interurban field for the city, if the line to Marion 
be excepted, but is proving daily more and more popular and its business is in- 
creasing in such a measure that the building of additional lines of like character 
is only a question of the near future. 

MANUFACTURING 

From the days of its very earliest beginnings the people of Cedar Rapids have 
paid especial attention to the manufacturing industry. A large part of those 
who settled in Cedar Rapids came from the east where manufacturing leads all 
other industries and it is but natural that they should embark in their new home 
in those lines with which they were familiar. The papers and records of the early 
days tell of a long line of enterprises that have come and gone. There were flour 
mills, woolen mills, implement works, engine factories, wagon factories, oil mills 
— the list is a long and interesting one to the delver info local history. 

With the coming of the railways, opening up markets for the manufactured 
products and atTording means of collecting and bringing in the raw material, 
the manufacturing side of Cedar Rapids' activities has grown apace, until today 
Cedar Rapids, although not the largest of Iowa cities, leads them all in the amount 
of manufactured goods produced. In 1908 the total ran to nearly if not quite 
$22,000,000. and the output for 100;) will far exceed that great figure. There 
are now nearly KX) manufacturing institutions in Cedar Rapids, employing nearly 
4,500 hands and [laying more than $:3.00().000 annually in wages. 

Many of our manufacturing institutions are of many years' standing. The 
great mill of the (Quaker Oats Company, the largi^st milling plant in the world, 
was originally established years ago as an oat meal mill by George Douglas and 
Robert Stuart, two thrifty and persevering Scotchmen to whose industry- and 
far-sightedness is due the fact that at least the first course of the world's breakfast 
(after fruits comes from Cedar Rapids. The great packinp plant of T. M. Sin- 
clair & Co., Lt<l., giving employment tfl 1,20(1 employes and sendinir its products 
to all parts of the world, has done more to advertise Cedar Rapids than any other 
one agency. It was established by T. M. Sinclair, a young man frorn Belfast, and 
from its nuKlest beginning many years ago it has be<-ome a plant representing 
an invt-stnient of millions and an ability to su|>ply at least a large portion of the 
second course of the world s breakfast. Then there is the big starch works of 



340 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Douglas & Co., the largest independent starch plant in the country — a plant 
where corn by the train load is daily transformed into starch and gluten feed. 
In smaller institutions note must be made of the Anchor Mill Co. and the T. Q. 
White Cereal Co., with their specialties in dour and wheat liakes. While on the 
subject of cereals, note should be taken of the big elevators and cleaning houses 
of the Cedar Rapids Grain Co., the Clinton Grain Co., Jackson Grain Co., and the 
Wells-Hord Grain Co. Without doubt, the name ''Cereal City" which has been 
applied to Cedar Rapids is not a misnomer. 

In other lines Cedar Rapids leads as well as in those involving the conversion 
of the native products of agricultural Iowa. This city with its three great pump 
companies, the Cedar Rapids Pump Co., the Chandler Pump Co., and the Iowa 
Windmill and Pump Co., control the pump, windmill, iron pipe and plumbing 
supply business of the middle west. While the collateral lines covered by the 
Dearborn Brass Co., the Iowa Radiator Co., the Tokheim Manufacturing Co., the 
Vernier ]\Ianufacturing Co., the Smith-Talbott Co., and others add materially 
to the leadership of Cedar Rapids in these departments. 

The Denning Fence works places Cedar Rapids in a leading position in the 
fence manufacturing business. The Perfection Manufacturing Co., the Hawkeye 
Skirt and Garment Co., the Weleh-Cook Co., and the Clark-MacDanel Co., give 
Cedar Rapids a high position in the business of manufacturing clothing for both 
men and women that is not suspected, even by some of the best posted people in 
the city. Then there are other lines of manufacture. The J. G. Cherry Co., with 
their line of dairy and creamery supplies; the Cedar Rapids Sash and Door Co., 
the Williams & Hunting Co., and the Disbrow Sash and Door Co., with their big 
wood working plants; the various furniture factories, the cement and sand-lime 
brick plants ; the big printing plants, for printing is a most important industry 
in Cedar Rapids ; in short, the list is endless and as this is not a directory of the 
manufacturing industries of Cedar Rapids, further individual mention will have 
to be abandoned. 

What is manufactured in Cedar Rapids ? The list is a long and mixed one. 
It comprehends all kinds of breakfast foods, flour, starch, gluten feed, all kinds of 
packing house products, woven wire fence, candy, ice cream, pumps, iron pipe, 
windmills, plumbers' supplies, steam heating plants, machinery of all kinds, 
stone and ore crushei-s, hot air furnaces, cornices, bank, store and ofiRce fixtures, 
camp and lawn furniture, corsets, parlor furniture, mattresses, woven wire springs, 
undertakers' supplies, egg cases, dairy supplies, butter, concrete fence posts, sand- 
lime brick, prepared plaster, ice, gasoline engines, store step-ladders, hard wood 
specialties, electrical supplies, gasoline storage tanks and measuring pumps, man- 
ure spreaders, overalls, women's skirts, suits and jackets, shirts, photo paper, 
brass goods, coffee, spices, extracts, baking powder, sash, doors and blinds, steel 
baskets, tanks, stoves, school books, umbrellas, vinegar, pickles, wagons, carriages, 
omnibusses, automobiles, patent medicines, physicians' and hospital supplies, 
crushed stone, cigars, etc., etc. 

It is noteworthy that of the many industries started in Cedar Rapids within 
the past twenty years, a very large per cent have been financial successes, some of 
them notably so. Nearly all of them have been launched in modest fashion and 
while nowhere is it possible for all enterprises to succeed, the few failures in Cedar 
Rapids have all been brought about by causes pureh' individual in the manage- 
ment or because of circumstances which seemingly no one could control. 

Cedar Rapids has passed beyond the experimental stage as a manufacturing 
city. It has been demonstrated that industries can be established and operated 
successfully here and that goods made in Cedar Rapids will find a ready and 
stable sale in all parts of the world. In fact. Cedar Rapids is but just beginning 
her epoch of industrial prosperity and growth and she extends to all the invitation 
to come, see how those here are prospering, and join in the march of events which 



CEDAR RAPIDS 341 

will in the years to loiuo make Cedar Kai)ids oue of the best knomi manufacturinp 
communities in the wliole United States. 

In this connection it is not amiss to speak of the excellent conditions which 
have always surroiuided the labor situation in this city. The manufacturing 
industry must, of nwessity. depend very lart;ely on the; element of labor and in 
many Iwalities strikes and strife and misunderstanding and trouble generally 
have added to the dilliculty of the local situation. There has been but little of 
this sort of thing in Cedar Rapids. Labor has always been well i)aid, well treated 
and well satisfied in this city, and the little difTerences which have come up be- 
tween employer and employe have all Itecn settled promptlv and .siitisfactorily. 
There has been an absence of the grafting labor agiUitor and "all have worked haV 
moniously together to build up tlie city and its best interests. 

THE STREET RAILWAYS 

BY E. A. SHERMAN, EDITOR SATURDAY RECORD 

The Marion and Cedar Rapids Improvement Company was incorporated March 
8, 1879. to construct street railways on the streets of Cedar Rapids and Marion 
and the highway between, known as the "Boulevard." 

The incorporators were Addison Daniels, J. L. Crawford, C. C. Cook, and John 
Meredith Davis. 

The officers were John Meredith Davis, president ; James L. Crawford, secre- 
tary ; C. C. Cook, treasurer. 

On March 13, 1879, the city council of Marion passed an ordinance authoriz- 
ing construction of the line in the city of Marion. On May 16th, the city council 
of Cedar Rapids passed an ordinance granting the Marion and Cedar Rapids 
Improvement Company the right to construct and operate street railways on Iowa 
avenue, and also on alternate streets. 

October 13. 1879. the name of the company was changed to the Cedar Rapids 
and Marion Street Railway Company. John Meredith Davis resigned as pres- 
ident and was succeeded by W. M. Hewitt. 

November 8. 1879, the city of Cedar Rapids pa.ssed another ordinance granting 
a franchise to the Cedar Rapids and JIarion Street Railwav Company for lines 
on Iowa avenue and on alternate streets. Up to this last date the enterprise had 
been fathered by Milwaukee and Davenport parties, who then dropped out. Con- 
struction had already been begun and the work wa.s continued by Marion parties, 
prominent among whom were Mr. E. Latham. J. L. Crawford, and J. C. Davis.' 
Mr. Latham advanced the money necessary for construction. 

On January 8, 1880, Mr. Latham was made president of the company. In 
March of that year Judge George Greene (always foremost in any enterprise" which 
would help Cedar Rapids) took a controlling interest in the company, and from 
that time forward, with the financial a.<!sistance rendered by Judge Greene, the 
work went rapidly on so that the line began carrying passengers between Cedar 
Rapids and Marion on the 3d of May. 18S0. by steam motor betwe<>n Twelfth 
street in Cedar Rapids and the terminal station in Marion, and from Twelfth street 
to Fourth strtvt in Cedar Rapids in horse cars. 

Both Judge Greene and Mr. Latham died early in the summer of 1830, and 
although Mr. S. C. Hever, Mr. A. J. McKean and other prominent citizens of 
Cedar Rapids and Marion afterwards became interested in the enterprise, the 
Greene family always held a controllincr interest and were foremost in manage- 
ment of the company up tn the sale in 1890. 

Mr. Latham was succeeded us president by William Greene on July 15, 1880. 

The board of .supervisors forbade the company laying its track on the boule- 
vard, and brought suit to enjoin such constructinn' The Eighteenth General 



342 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Assembly (1880) passed an act authorizing street raihvaj' tracks on roads 100 feet 
wade. So the supreme court sustained Judge Shane in refusing the injunction. 
Early in the spring of 1881, the line was extended across the steam railway tracks 
at Fourth street to the foot of Iowa avenue. Soon after that date the company 
were not allowed to bring the steam niotoi-s below Fifteenth street, the horse cars 
carrying the ilarion passengers up to that point. 

The track between Marion and the city limits of Cedar Rapids were laid with 
"T" rails weighing sixteen pounds to the yard; afterwards changed to thirtj'-five 
poimds per yard. The horse car tracks were laid with flat rails weighing twenty- 
two to twenty-four pounds per yard, spiked on the top of wooden stringers. The 
first equipment consisted of two small second hand steam motors and four cars. 

The extensions and additions made were : In 1882, track to fair ground from 
First to B avenue, only operated during fairs and amusements. Line on Adams 
(now Third) street, First avenue to Fourteenth avenue. Opened September 7, 
1882. Line from First avenue and Commercial (now First) street to Third ave- 
nue, across Tliird avenue bridge on Third avenue to Sixth street west; also line 
on Third street north from Third avenue to A avenue, and south to Seventh 
avenue west. These west side lines began doing business in the fall of 1832, and 
early in 1883 car and horse bams were built at Third avenue and Third street 
west. 

In 1884, line extended from Third street and Seventh avenue west to J. C. 
Young's addition at Sixth street and Fifteenth avenue west and afterwards taken 
up for want of business. 

In 1886, line from First avenue east along Fifth street to Fifth avenue, up 
First avenue to Tenth street, thence on Tenth street and Mount Vernon road to 
Oak Hill cemetery; opened for business July 4, 1886. 

Fair ground line taken up. New line on Sixteenth street from First to E 
avenue, built and put in operation November 15, 1886. 

As the branch lines of horse railroad within the city of Cedar Rapids paid no 
profit, the I\Iarion stockholders stoutly objected to the earnings of the Marion line 
being used for the sole benefit of the people of Cedar Rapids. So the Cedar Rap- 
ids and Clarion Railway Co., on the 13th of July, 188!). conveyed to John W. 
Henderson — for the sura of one dollar — all of these branch lines excepting the 
Sixteenth street line. Mr. Henderson on November 14. 1889, deeded the same 
to the Cedar Rapids Street Railway, a company organized for the purpose of 
operating these city lines, and for the further construction of other city lines 
in Cedar Rapids, of which company C. G. Greene was president, LT. C. Blake, vice- 
president, W. J. Greene, secretary, and George Greene, treasurer. 

These city lines failed to earn enough to pay operating expenses and were all 
conveyed back to the Cedar Rapids and I\Iarion Railway Co. on February 9, 1891. 
For the year ending June 30, 1884, the number of employes of the company was 
twenty, the annual wages $11,667.44. In 1889 the number of employes averaged 
twenty-eight and the annual wages $15,878.00. 

During the years 1886 to 1890, the west side lines had been gradually aban- 
doned, so that on December 1, 1890, there was only remaining the one on First 
street and across the Third avenue bridge to Third street, and thence on Third 
street southwesterly to Seventh avenue. 

The entire equipment at that date consisted of two steam motors, two 28-foot 
coaches, one open trail car, 20 feet long, one baggage car, one 18-foot, six 12-foot, 
and eleven 10-foot horse cars, two snow plows, two flat cars and nineteen horses 
and mules, with the necessary harness and fixtures. 

In the autumn of 1890 it came to the knowledge of Mr. J. S. Ely that non- 
resident parties were investigating the situation with a view of acquiring the 
property of the Cedar Rapids and ]\Iarion Railway, together with the city lines 
then owned by the Cedar Rapids Street Railway. Mr. Ely believing that it would 



CEDAR RAPIDS 343 

be best for the interestis of the city of Cedar Rapids that eoiitrol of the transpor- 
tation facilities be in the hands of resident property o\vnei-s, who woidd liave a 
greater inU-rest in a more extensive systt^'iu and better serviee, than those seeking 
merely liuaneial protit, obtained options on a controlling inten'st in the capital 
stock of both of the companies. After which Mr. Ely and Mr. Henry V. Ferguson 
organized a syndicate consisting of Jlessrs. A. T. Averill, James L. Hever, Chas. II. 
Clark, Geo. B. Douglas, Walter D. Douglas, C. J. Ives, C. iMagnus, I'. E. Hall, J. S. 
Ely, and Ilenrj- V. Ferguson, who on December 15, 1890, purcha.sed twcvthirds of 
the entire capital stock of the two companies (the C. R. & M. Ry. and the C. R. 
Street Ry.) buying out all of the old stockholders except Frances R. Greene, C. Q. 
Greene, S. C. Bever, Geo. W. Bever, and U. C. Blake. Immediiitely after this 
change of control, the stockholders i)aid in money enough to clear up all the 
floating debt of the companies, and put them on a good financial basis. The 
stockholders addressed the following communication to the mayor and city council 
of Cedar Rapids: 

"To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Cedar Rapids, 

Iowa : 

"The undersigned stockholders in the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway, and 
in the Cedar Rapids Street Railway Company, respectfully represent to your 
honorable body that they are the absolute owners of all the stock of the corpor- 
ations, and all are resident tax payers in said cit}', largely interested in its general 
progress and prosperity ; that it is their purpose and intention to reconstruct, 
improve and extend the properties now operated by the said companies and to run 
the cars on said lines by electric power as soon as the necessary authority and the 
additional rights and franchises required are granted, and on the granting of the 
same, we pledge ourselves to take immediate stops toward putting on electric 
service, and to rebuild, maintain and operate, and from time to time extend the 
lines in said city to tlie full extent that ordinary business prudence will warrant. 
"We, therefore, petition your honorable body to grant said corporations the 
necessarj' authority, rights and franchises to enable them to enter upon and make 
the changes and improvements above mentioned. 

"P. E. Hall, A. T. Averill, Henrj- V. Ferguson, C. G. Greene, Walter D. Doug- 
las, Jno. S. Ely, Chas. H. Clark. C. J. Ives. Jas. L. Bever, G. B. Douglas, C. Mag- 
nus. F. R. Greene. Geo. W. Bever, S. C. Bever, U. C. Blake. 

"Dated December 31. 1890." 

The franchise asked for by these stockholders was for twenty-five years. 

Although the above application was warmly supported by the leading news- 
papers of Cedar Rapids, the city council refused the franchise so asked for, but 
instead on May 1, 1801. granted to the Thomson-Houston Electric Co. a fran- 
chise for fifty years, for lines covering substantially the same territory on the 
east side of the river as that served by the horse cars, and also for three miles of 
new lines on the west side of the river, to be afterwards located. 

So these gentlemen who had put up their money to save the city of Cedar 
Rapids from non-resident ownership of transportation lines, found their purpose 
frustrated and with a fair prospect of losing their entire investment. Rather than 
suffer this, a majority decided to accpiire this new franchise at the best price 
obtainable, and then go ahead with construction according to its terms. After 
this decision Jlr. Ives and Mr. Magnus retired from the enterprise and took back 
their money. Previously, during the negotiation for the franchise, Mr. S. C. 
Bever and Mr. U. C. Blake had sold out. On the organization of the new com- 
pany to take over the Thomson-Houston franchise. Mrs. Frances R. Greene, 
C. G. Greene and Geo. W. Bever sold their interests to the remaining stockholders. 

Neither the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway nor the Cedar Rapids Street 
Railway ever paid a dividend, so that all of the stockholders who had invested 



344 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

their money in these enterprises went out with entire loss of income, and most of 
them with considerable loss of principal. 

J. P. Messer was superintendent from Januarj' 1, 1881, to February 22, 18S3, 
when he resigned and was succeeded by Wm. Elsom, who remained superinten- 
dent until after the system had been changed into an electric railway. 

CEDAR RAPIDS AND MARION CITY RAILWAY COMPANY 

The Cedar Rapids and Marion City Railwaj- Company was organized May 14. 
1891, and immediately thereafter purchased the franchise for electric railways in 
Cedar Rapids recently granted to the Thomson-Houston Electric Co., and also 
took over all the rights, property and franchises of the Cedar Rapids and Marion 
Railway. A franchise for twenty -five years for an electric line from the terminal 
point in the city of Marion to the southwesterly city limits of Marion was granted 
to this company at about that time. The first oiScers were : Jas. L. Bever, pres- 
ident; "Walter D. Douglas, vice-president; Chas. H. Clark, treasurer; Glenn M. 
Averill, secretary. 

Within a few months Jas. L. Bever and A. T. Averill sold out and retired from 
the enterprise. After the reorganization resulting from this change in ownership, 
the officers were: P. E. Hall, president; W. D. Douglas, vice-president; Chas. H. 
Clark, treasurer ; John S. Ely, secretary. 

The stockholders were : Chas. H. Clark, Geo. B. Douglas, John S. Ely, J. S. 
Cook, Walter D. Douglas, Henry V. Ferguson, and P. E. Hall, of Cedar Rapids, 
Horace Williams, of Clinton, Iowa. J. E. Ainsworth, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, now 
of Williamstown, Vt., David P. Kimball and L. C. Kimball, of Boston, Mass., and 
J. Van Deventer, of Knoxville, Tenn. 

No change of ownership except through division of estates of deceased stock- 
holders has taken place up to the present time. 

The work of construction and reconstruction was begun at once and vigorously 
pushed during the season of 1891. 

All tracks were entirely new excepting from Sixteenth street to Marion. Those 
across the First avenue bridge were laid with strap rails, nailed to the bridge 
plank The balance of the double track with 5S pound girder rails. All other 
new lines with 45 pound "T" rail. The strap rail was taken off the bridge and 
girder rail substituted a few years thereafter. The city lines on the east side of 
the river were open for business in November, 1891, the west side lines in Decem- 
ber, 1891, and electric service begun to Marion in February, 1892. 

The main line mileage of the road at this date, not coiuiting spur and side- 
tracks is, within the city of Cedar Rapids 12.85 miles, of which 2.28 miles is double 
track. From the city limits at Kenwood to Marion, 2.80 miles ; total 15.65 miles. 

The Marion line above Twentieth street through to Marion has been entirely 
rebuilt with new rails, the grades cut down, the alignment changed, the track 
ballasted, a new steel and concrete bridge built over Indian creek; so as to make 
that portion of the road fully adequate for the business. 

Within the last three years all of the girder rail tracks east of the river have 
been re'aid with 60 and 80 pound "T" rails and the number of ties increased 
fifty per cent. 

The service has been increased to once in fifteen minutes each way and ex- 
tended to twelve o'clock at night on all the lines excepting the Marion line, where 
the service is once in twenty minutes during the day and up to 12 :30 a. m. 

The power plant first installed consisted of two 125 horsepower engines con- 
nected by belts to two 75 k. w. generators. It now consists of one 400 horsepower 
engine belted to a 300 k. w. generator, and one 750 horsepower engine directly 
connected to a 450 k. w. generator. The output of power is equalized by a 
storage battery of 272 cells. The boilei-s, smoke stack, switch board, condensers 
and all minor machinery have been correspondingly increased and improved. 



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CEDAK KAPIDS 345 

The car barn (oripinally a wooden iron-clad building 80x140 feet) has been 
enlarged and new brifk buildings ereeted with shop room for building oar bodies 
and trucks, and making all nt-cossary rejiairs to cars tuid electric equipment; so 
that the present storage shop and ollice buildings, with storage for lumber and ties, 
<;overs six full sized city iota. The company now builds its own car trucks and 
car bodies. 

For the year 1892 (first year of operation of electric lines) the average number 
of employes was 81, and the total wages jiaid $37. (IK). 12. For the year 1008 
the average number of employes was 143 and the annual wages $84,328.73. 

William Elsom was superintendent from the organization of the company 
imtil June, 1802, when he resigned and was succeeded by F. L. Diserens, who 
still holds that position. 

The present oflieers and directors are: P. E. Hall, president; Henry V. 
FergiKson, vice-president and secretary; John S. Ely, treasurer. 

The directors are P. E. Hall, John S. Ely, Henry V. Fergu.son, (Jeorge B. 
Douglas, and Edward C. Clark, all of Cedar Uapids; Walter D. Douglas, of Min- 
neapolis, Minnesota : and David P. Kimball, of Boston, Massachu.setts. 

THE COJIMERCIAL CLUB 

FROM THE SATURDAY RECORD, JULY lO, 1909 

The city of Cedar Rapids has had a number of commercial organizations, 
formed to advance the business interests of the community, in the sixty years of 
its existence, but all the earlier associations were of a more or less informal 
character, and while they did good work as long as the enthusiasm lasted, the time 
came when each and every one passed into history. It was not until 1S97 that 
a permanent commercial club came into being and that organization, which is 
now known as the Cedar Rapids Commercial Club, has for the past twelve years 
played a most important part in the upbuilding of the city and the promotion of 
its best commercial and indiLstrial interests. 

The events leading up to the organization of the Commercial Club form an 
interesting story, and iis the editor of The Record was personally identified with 
them, he here takes the liberty of making the facts a matter of record. 

In April, 18!)7. a meeting of the Fifth District Editorial Association was held 
at Excelsior Springs, Mo., and as part of the entertainment, a delegation from 
the Commercial Club of Kansas City, escorted the members of the P^ditorial Asso- 
ciation from Excelsior Springs to Kansas City and devoted a day to showing them 
Kansas City from everj* point of view. The stock yards, the packing houses, 
the fire department, the newspaper offices, the parks were visited, a reception 
and luncheon were tendered at the Commercial Club rooms and a dinner was 
served at one of the bviding hotels. Following the return of the party to Excel- 
sior Springs, A. .\. Palmer, president of the Cedar Rapids Business College and 
editor of the American Penman, and the editor of The Record were discussing 
the splendid entertainment of the Kiuisas City boosters and what it meant to a 
city to have such a live organization; and it was then and there decided that 
Cedar Rapids ought to have such a club. The matter was talked over at length 
and the result was that as soon as possible after returning home, Mr. Palmer issued 
a letter to some 400 of the business men of the city reciting the need of such an 
organization in Cedar Rapids and calling a meeting for the purpose of consider- 
ing its formation. That meeting was held in the assembly room of the Cedar 
Rapids Business College on the eveninsj of June 8. 1807. It was decided to form 
the club and at a sub.«equent meeting, held J\dy 2d, the club was formally 
organized. A. N. Palmer was chosen the first president and the editor of The 
Record was elected temporary secretar>'. servincr until the election of the first 



346 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

permanent paid secretarj', Ed. R. Shaw, who assumed ofBee July 15th. The 
first otSces of the club were in the Granby building, the rent being a donation 
from Mr. E. A. Higley. Subsequently, in May, 1901, came the consolidation of 
the Commercial Club with the Occidental Club and the removal to the Masonic 
Temple, which has since been the home of the club. 

"With the consolidation came the addition of the social feature, including read- 
ing room, billiards, and later, the inauguration of the noon-day lunch, which latter 
has proved to be most popular, and which has done much to bring the members 
in closer touch each with the other. 

Ever since organization the Commercial Club has been fortunate in securing 
as officers men who have been \villing and able to give the organization their 
time, best thought and energy, with the result that it has been and is now a live 
and potent force in the commimity. Such men as Palmer, Anderson, Forbes, 
Newman, Safely, Rail, and others, have filled the presidency with credit to them- 
selves and profit to the club and the city, and in Shaw, Lincoln, Charles, Sim- 
mons, Sessions, Shaver, Bell, and Wunderlieh the Commercial Club has had 
secretaries who have labored faithfullj' to further the best interests of the organ- 
ization and city. The present officers, J. F. Rail, president, and John Wunder- 
lieh, secretary, are making records in their administration and achieving results 
that speak for themselves. 

The work of the Commercial Club is so wide-spreading and presents so many 
a.spects that it is impossible to refer to it in any detail. The idea of the club is 
to arrange systematic work to be done by the members, as well as by the officers, 
and with that in view, there are a number of committees in charge of various de- 
partments of the work, as follows: Assembly, Civic, Entertainments, Executive, 
House, Interurban, Legislative, Manufactures, Mercantile, Membership, Navi- 
gation on Cedar River, Public Institutions, Trade Extension, Tarilf and Trans- 
portation, Special Convention, Railway Service, Statistics. These are all regular 
standing committees. In addition, many special committees are appointed to 
take up special or emergency matters. 

As the result of the labors and aid of the Commercial Club, many prosperous 
and valuable manufacturing industries have been brought to Cedar Rapids the 
past twelve years. Many local businesses have been encouraged to start and aided 
on their way to success. Many established businesses that have needed en- 
couragement have been given it and other businesses that have found difficulties 
in their pathway have had those difficulties removed through the offices of the 
Commercial Club and its members. Conventions and public gatherings of 
many kinds have been induced to hold their meetings in this city through work 
performed by the Commercial Club. Vexatious local disputes have been ad- 
.iusted, and when cities like Indianapolis have attempted to entice such organiza- 
tions as the Order of Railway Conductors away from Cedar Rapids, the Com- 
mercial Club has been found stanchly and successfully contesting the removal. 
When it was found necessary to secure legislation amending some phases of the 
commission plan law to make it fully applicable to Cedar Rapids, it was the 
Commercial Club that went before the legislature and secured the needed amend- 
ments. It was the Commercial Club that first began the work of running trade 
excursions, an idea that has grown with each year. The trip of this spring, to 
Le Mars, via the Illinois Central and return via Sheldon, IMason City, and 
Calmar on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, oecup.ving four days with ninety 
in the party, was by all odds the best and most profitable of all the series. 

Within the past year a new and valuable department has been created in the 
freight traffic bureau. The work of this department is to bring about an equitable 
condition in freight rates for Cedar Rapids, as compared with other cities of like 
location and surroundinsrs and eliminate discriminatory freisht rates as compared 
with other jobbing centers. In the prosecution of the work of this bureau, the 



CEDAR RAPIDS 347 

Commercial Club has been most successful, for up to the present time adjustment* 
brought about by the bureau repri'sent a saviug of about $24.(100 per year to the 
mauufaeturers, jobbers and business men of the city. In addition to the work of 
bringinp about an equalization of freight rates, an individual service is maintained 
for the purpose of e.xamining freight claims against the railway companies. In 
this particular many claims of long standing have been satisfactorily adjusted. 

The Commercial Club has a present membership of 280, made up of the 
leading business and professional men of the city. It is a live, active organiza- 
tion, reflecting the best and most progressive citizenship of the community. The 
club apartments occupy a large portion of tin- fourth lloor of the Masonic Temple, 
are commodious and comfortable, and form a gathering place for the discussion 
of matters which alTcct the business prosperity of the city. Regular meetings 
of tlie board of directors are held every .Nlonday noon, following a lunch served 
in the directors' room, and at these meetings the docket for the week is cleared 
up. It is a significant fact that these meetings are attended by practically the 
entire membership of the directory and that no matter is allowed to drag for 
want of immediate attention. 

The oflicers and directors of the Commercial Club at the present time are: 
President, J. F. Rail; first vice-president, F. Junkermann; second vice-president, 
S. G. Annstrong; secretary, John Wunderlich; treasurer, L. W. Anderson; 
directors, J. W. Barry, J. S. Broeksmit, W. L. Cherry, J. M. Denning, Kent C. 
Ferman, J. M. Grimm, W. G. Haskell, Geo. T. Hedges, E. E. Pinnev, R. I. Safely, 
John H. Taft. 

WHO PAID THE TAXES IN CEDAR RAPIDS FIFTY YEARS AGO 

BV THOMAS DEVENDORF 

Cedar Rapids has made many changes and improvements during the past 
half century. But perhaps no change lias been so great as the change in the val- 
uation of property. In 1858 there was a population of only about thirty-five 
hundred within the city limits, and in the entire county only eighteen thousand. 
Twenty per cent of the population then resided in Cedar Rapids. Today we 
claim nearly thirty-five thousand and over fifty per cent of the entire population 
of the county. At that time the area of the city was very much less than at 
pre.«ent. Franklin street, now Eleventh street east, was as far as was platted. 
Beyond was heavily wooded and used in summers for picnic parties; to the south 
Carpenter's first addition luid already been laid and but verj- few of the lot.s had 
been improved, the lower end, where the packing plant of T. M. Sinclair & Co. is 
located, was used as a race track, where the local horsemen competed. Kingston, 
on the west side of the river, was an independent municipality, having its own 
city government and city officers, and remained so until the year 1870, when it 
was annexed and became a part of the present Cedar Rapids. 

The a.s.sessed valuation of the city for the year 18o8 was for both real estate 
and personal the sum of .t:'33'),f)12 — what proportion that amount will bear 
to the real cash value of the property the writer is unable to state. But it is the 
rule generally adopted by a.sses.sors to make the value much less than the price 
parties would buy and sell the same property for, and on this assessment of 
$53r),in2 a levy was made of two mills on the dollar, which, if the collector was 
diligent and had good luck, would have produced the sum of $1,071.00, which the 
city officers could u.se to carr}' on the affairs of the city — pay salaries, make 
improvements, grade streets, build crossings, and to meet all other expenses of 
the city. That this sum was inadequate for the purpose is shown by the fact 
that the larger share of the taxes of this year were paid in what they denominated 
"city script," which we call city warrants, so that the city fathers had very little 



348 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

real cash in the city treasury. This city script was issued for work and salaries 
and such other expenses as were necessary and was not interest bearing, so that 
a party that had such script was ready to dispose of the same to the best ad- 
vantage he could, and parties that had taxes to pay would gather up such 
script at what discount they could get and use it for the purpose of paying their 
taxes. The larger tax payers all paid in "city .script." 

The city ofSeials of that time are all dead. R. C. Rock was mayor; George 
Seymour, recorder; A. S. Koontz, trea.surer; A. S. Belt, city attorney. 

J. J. Snouffcr and John G. Graves were the aldermen from the first ward; 
D. W. Sprague and R. R. Taylor, aldermen from the second ward ; Wni. Rich- 
mond and S. A. Shattuck, aldermen from the third ward. 

There are only eight residents of this city at the present time whose names ap- 
pear on the tax list of fifty years ago; the only ones we can remember are the 
following: James Bird, Isaac Carroll, E. Coulter, C. Fordyce, Jos. Perigo. 
David Lighty, P. F. Randall, and Wesley Stephens. Some of the above paid 
a poll tax only. David Lighty i)aid tax on lot 3, block 28, original town, 
and has paid taxes on this same lot all the years since and owns the prop- 
erty today. Isaac Whittara paid the taxes on lot 5. block 13, original town. 
This is the corner lot on which the Montrose Hot*! is located. The lot was then 
valued at .$550. and the tax was $1.10. Isaac Carroll paid the taxes on three city 
lots, the total value of which was $585 ; also on two horses, value $150 ; one car- 
riage, value $75; his tax was $1.92, paid in script. E. Coulter paid on a stock of 
merchandise (drugs) valued at $800. 

A few others who are listed on the tax books of half a century ago are known 
to be living, but have removed to other places. 

W. W. Smith, of Minneapolis, who was an active business man at that time, 
owned five lots on Second -street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues east, on which 
he built a large brick building, intending to use it as a hotel. It was, however, 
used as a residence property, and was known as the Wadsworth Block. This 
property was located where the Illinois Central railroad lately erected their fine 
new freight depot, comer of Fifth avenue and Second street. 

S. D. Carpenter, now a resident of Chicago, paid the taxes on the south 280 
feet of outlot 4, valued at $850, tax $1.90. This property is located on Third 
avenue, between Eighth and Tenth streets, and includes the homes of A. Sinclair, 
Rev. Burkhalter, Ed. Clark, and the late home of Robert "Williams. 

Geo. Greene was the largest individual taxpayer of that da,y. He was assessed 
with some 70 city lots. Many of them were in the. business part of town, the total 
assessed value of these was $28,575, and the tax was $56.40. 

In his list were lots 3, 4. 5. 6, block 24 original plat, property on which is now 
located the Allison hotel, the College Inn and the three business rooms to the west, 
all on First avenue. Also a lot at corner of Second avenue and Fourth street, now 
owned by Mr. C. Magnus ; these four lots were valued at $2,200 and the tax was 
$4.40. He owned lots 4 and 5 block 42 assessed at $300 each. These are now the 
homes of Dr. Geo. Carpenter and Mike Ford. He also paid the taxes on 125 feet 
on First street lots now occupied by the Rudolph block, the Gazette office. Geo. C. 
Haman drug store and (Jeo. Yuill farm implements. The total value of this 125 
feet was $3,600, the taxes $7.20. At that time this property was occupied by a 
large three story hotel called Greene's hotel, and it is said by those who were guests 
of the house that it was one of the best west of Chicago. The next largest tax- 
paver was John F. Elv, who was assessed on 38 building lots at an assessed value 
of $24,800 and on which he paid a tax of $51.16. Lots 1, 2. 3, 4, 5, bloc-k 14, orig- 
inal plat, was valued at $3,500.00, tax on same $7.00. This was his home. A 
comfortable, unpretentious cottage occupied the center of block, surrounded by 
shrubbery-, flowers and many apple trees. These lots are now occupied by the 
large business houses of Jones & Luberger, Martin Dr>' Goods Co., the Dows block 



CEDAR RAPIDS 349 

on the comer of Second street and Second avenue, and also Snowden's, 
corner of Third street and Second avenue. He also was assessed with the property 
now belonging to the Churchill estate, comer of First street and Second avenue, 
value $1,15U.U0, tax on same $2.30. Lot 10, block 24, original plat, now occupied 
by the Cedar Rapids National Bank and for many years known as the old Baptist 
church corner, was assessed at $700.00 and the tax was $1.40. 

Mr. Ely was also the owner of lota 4, 5, 8, !), block 15, which is now the John 
IT. Taft corner, and the store of Ludy & Taylor, all on First avenue, to- 
gether with the property on which is located the "Oriel" block and part 
of the next lot to the west, both on Second avenue. These four lots now just in 
the most valuable part of the business district, were valued at $2,850.00, on which 
he paid the city tax of $5.70. The lot on the corner of Second avenue and Fifth 
street on which the Public Library is located, was one of his lots and is one that 
he continued to own up to the time it was condemned by the library board for the 
purpose of erecting the library building. This lot was assessed at $425.00, tax 
paid 85 cents. He was also the owner of lots 8, 9, 10, block 23, original plat. 
These are on First avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. These three lots 
were assessed at $1,350.00, tax paid on same, $2.70. 

The lots 1 and 2, block 4, was also included in his district. These are on the 
corner of First street and Second avenue. It was regarded as valuable property 
by the assessor of fifty years ago. as he has these two lots assessed at $3,700.00. 
No other two lots in the city were rated at so high a value as these. This must 
have been regarded as the best business location of that day. 

The next Cedar Rapids tax payer who had to gather up the next largest amo>mt 
of city scrip with which to paj- his city tax was Mr. N. B. Brown, who was asses.sed 
with 47 city lots the total value of which was .$20,750. This with .some personal 
property, as merchandise, horses, cows and bridge stock made his total property 
valuation $23,290.00 and on this amount he paid a city tax of $46.58. Mr. Brown 
was one of the owners of the original plat of the city and many pieces of property 
which are now very valuable was at that time set off to him as his share of the 
original town plat. 

Lots 3 and 4, block 25, are two valuable pieces of property. These are on 
Second avenue between Third and Fourth streets and on which is located the 
Damour Grocery House, and some of the property on which the new government 
postoffice is erected. These two lots were assessed at $900.00 on which he paid a 
tax of $1.80. Mr. Brown also was the owner of lots 6, 7, 8, block 23. These were 
on the north side of First avenue and extended from Fourth street west to where 
the Grand hotel now is and included the Chicago & Northwestern freight depot, 
the Pullman Hou.«e. the Delavan hotel and the property now owned by Mr. Lan- 
sing and used as a saloon. These three valuable lots were then assessed at $1,700.00 
on which he paid the tax of $3.40. 

Another fine piece of property was his home, which was the entire block 38. 
His fine brick residence was located in the center of the block and was at that 
day one of the finest dwellings in this part of the state. These ten lots which were 
all included was valued at $3,250.00. This property has been .sold and sub-divid- 
ed until the only part left is the southea.st corner of the block which N. E. Brown 
his son, now occupies with a fine modem brick dwelling, directly opposite Grace 
Episcopal church. 

He was al.so the owner of the property on which Gorman's hotel is located. 
This hotel was built by Mr. Bro\vn and a few years after it was considered the 
best hotel t<) be found in this part of the state. The upper story was finished for 
an amusement place and before the building of Greene's opera house this was 
the only place that could be u.sed for that purpose. 

Mr. Brown was largely cnga^jed in milling at that time and owned and operat- 
ed a woolen mill and also a liouring mill, the buildings of both are still standing 
but have not been in operation for some time. 



350 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Greene, Merritt & Co. were the bankers of that period and were assessed vnth 
one city lot, corner of First street and B avenue, value $700.00, together with their 
bank capital $20,000. Their city tax was $il.50. The senior member of this 
firm was Geo. Greene, who was the largest real estate owner of that date and who 
has been mentioned before in this article. IMr. IMerritt, the other member of the 
banking firm, was a brother-in-law of ilr. Greene. Messrs. Geo. Greene, Wm. 
Greene and Joseph Greene were brothei-s and together were largely instrumental 
in shaping the development and growth of Cedar Rapids. They had faith in its 
future and did not hesitate to give their money and their time to every effort 
made to advance, build up and beautify their home city. 

Wm. Greene was assessed with some twenty city lots, the value of which was 
$5,625.00, which \\-ith some personal property assessed to him made his total valua- 
tion $6,360 and his tax paid in city scrip $12.72. He was the o«Tier of the east 1/2 
of out lot 6 and Mr. Merritt was the o\vner of the west Yo of the same out lot. 
This property was assessed at $19.00, for both Mr. Greene's and Mr. Merritt 'a 
part. This out lot is situated between Fourth and Fifth avenues and Eighth and 
Tenth streets and is now built up with some of the finest homes in the city. A. 
C. Taylor, Luther A. Brewer, Mrs. N. Bourne, Henry S. JossehTi, Dr. Ruml, Wm. 
H. Button, Geo. A. MuUin, John H. Taft, and many others have homes in this 
out lot. 

Greene Brothers were assessed with eight lots, all well inside the business dis- 
trict, which were valued at .$5,085.00; tax on same $10.17; lots 6 and 7, block 16, 
value $1,300.00; tax $2.60. These lots are on the corner of First avenue and 
Third street and are now occupied by Tony Naso on the comer for a fruit store 
and the balance of the lots by the "Fair Company." 

Mr. Daniels was another large owTier of Cedar Rapids real estate, fifty years 
ago. The assessor for that year had him listed with 38 city lots besides four 
entire out lots, together they were assessed at $17,025.00, and the tax on the entire 
propertj'- was $34.05, all paid in the usual city script. Some of this property 
lying in and near the business part has become quite valuable. Lot 2, block 5, 
being a lot on Second street between Third and Fourth avenue, was listed by the 
assessor at $500.00. This piece of property was sold to John IMurray some two 
years ago for some $12,000.00, or thereabouts. This is now occupied by the inter- 
urban railway as their depot. Another piece assessed to the same party, lot 6, 
block 12, corner of Third street and Fourth avenue, the rear part of this lot is 
being improved this present season by the Bohemian Turners. This lot was as- 
sessed at $425. Tax on same, 85 cents. Mr. Daniels was also owner of lots 8 and 
9, block 14. These lots are on Third avenue between Second and Third street 
and are owned by Sam Armstrong and John S. Elj% the assessed value of the 
two lots was $1,250.00 and tax on lots $2.50. 

Lot 10, block 42, value $375.00. This is the corner lot on which the Methodist 
church is located. Lot 1, block 43, value $350.00. This is the comer on which 
the Christian church was built. 

Lawson and Lowell Daniels, under the firm name of L. Daniels & Co., were as- 
sessed with 19 city lots, value of which was $8,775.00. Merchandise, $1,000; five 
horses, $375.00 ; three carriages $150.00. The total tax was $21.40. 

Lot 5, block 2, is the lot on which the Masonie Temple is now located, and was 
valued at that time at .$2,400.00. They used it then and for many years after 
as a store room and did a verj' large business. They sold about everything to be 
found in a well regulated countrj' store, and were Imown for many miles around 
as reliable and enterprising merchants. They were also owners of lot 3, block 15, 
This is the lot on which the Reps Dr>- Goods Co. is located and was valued at 
.$700,00. They were also owners of out lot 16, valued at $350.00. This is located 
between Third and Fourth avenue and Twelfth and Fourteenth streets, is now 



CEDAR RAPIDS 351 

nearly all improved with fine homes, the new Westminster church is on this block, 
corner of Fourteenth street and Third avenue. 

Harvey Higley and his brother, Henry Ilipley, under the firm name of Ilipley 
& Co., were large owners of city real estate, the larger part of which was in the 
district now given up to business. They were owners of the lot on which the 
Granby Block now stands, which at that time was only valued at $700.00. They 
were also assessed with the property on which the Denecke Dry Goods store is 
now located. This was a.ssessod at a value of $80.00. On this lot wjus a large 
livery stable of which the Higleys were the owners, and which they conducted for 
many years after. They were also the owners of the lot, corner of First avenue 
and Second street, now occupied by Oscar Solomon, and ten years after erected 
the store building now standing thereon. This piece of property was valued at 
that time at $725.00. They were also a.ssessed with lot 3, block 2, at a valuation 
of $1,700.00. This is on First street and is now occupied by Kubias & Son, as 
a harness store. 

Sampson C. Bever was assessed with real estate to the value of $9,480.00, and 
personal property $515.00. On this assessment he paid a tax of $19.90. The 
most valuable piece of property held by himself that time was the homestead 
which was located on First avenue and between Fourth and Fifth streets. These 
five lots were assessed at $2,325.00; the house, which was a large brick structure, 
stood about where the old B., C. R. & N. Railway erected their general offices a 
few years since. The Jlilwaukee railway depot is also located on one of the lots 
of the Bever home property. 

Mr. Bever was also assessed with lot 1, block 3, original town, at a valuation of 
$1,875.00. This is the lot on which the banking house of the Commercial Savings 
Bank is located and is a property which the Bever family have paid taxes on for 
over a half century. A large part of Mr. Bever 's property was in lands lying 
out.«ide of the city limits and which the writer of this article is not able to correctly 
describe. Jlr. Bever located in Cedar Rapids in April, 1852, and for a number 
of years was engaged as a merchant, after which he became interested in bunking 
and was the head of the private banking house of S. C. Bever & Sons. This liank 
afterwards became the City National Bank and was the first national bank to be 
established in Cedar Rapids. 

H. G. Angle & Co. paid on a valuation of $4,700.00 real, $3,000.00 pers(mal. 
They were largely interested in milling and also conducted a large store. The 
building in which they operated is still standing on the corner of A avenui' and 
First street and is now occupied as a saloon. The company was assessed with 
twelve city lots. 

A. M. Mekeel was assessed with personal property only, value $(5,000 and 
paid into the city trea-^ury the sum of $12.00. lie paid the Lirgest tax on mcney 
of any one in Cedar Rajuds except the bankers on their bank capital. 

Geo. Ohler, lot 8, block 11. value .$375.00. He paid a tax of 20 cents. This 
was his home and was located on Sixth avenue and here he and Mrs. Ohler re- 
sided for over fifty years. Mr. Ohler died about four years ago and Mrs. Ohler 
more recently. The only member of the family remaining is Mr. Frank Ohler. 

S. N'yere paid on merchandise value of $100.00. Mr. Nyere was a tailor and 
continued in that business for many years after. He was the father of Geo. 
Nyere, late candidate for mayor, also of John and Louis Nyere, plumbers, all 
successful and pu.shing biLsincss men. 

Philip Otterbein, one city lot valued at $250.00, tax paid. 50 cents. IIenr\- 
Otterbein of the west side is a son of Mr. Otterbein. 

S. li. I'ollm-k was the owner of a number of city lot.s. the value of which was 
$2,340, and on which he paid a tax of $4.58. He owned lot 8, block 2, on which 
is located Gn-ene's opera house, and valued at that time at $700.0(1. He also 



352 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

owned a lot on First street about opposite the auditorium valued at $375.00. and 
also a part of the land on which the auditorium now stands. 

Wm. Passraore was assessed with one business lot on First street about the 
middle of the block on the east side between First and Second avenues, and which 
was valued at $600.00. This with $535.00 of personal property, made his city 
tax $2.27. 

G. A. Reichenecker was assessed with lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, block 48, which were 
valued at $1,575 on which he paid a tax of $3.15. These five city lots are located 
on Second avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets, and on which are located 
the homes of the late Isaac Shaver and U. B. Sanders and Mrs. Lawson Daniels. 

Mr. Sanford, a non-resident, was assessed with out lot 5 at a value of $1,700.00. 
This out lot is situated between Eighth and Tenth streets. Third and Fourth 
avenues, and contains the homes of J. S. Frick, David Blakely, Mrs. G. Carpenter, 
E. E. Pinney, all on Third avenue, and L. Benedict, E. J. Carey, Mrs. L. Wallace, 
J. C. Pickering, R. M. Garrison, David Lighty and Jas. W. Wiley, all on Fourth 
avenue. This property at that time contained nothing but native timber and a 
liixurious crop of sand burrs. 

John Weare was the owner of outlot 2 and which was valued at $1,700. This 
property is on First avenue and between Eighth and Tenth streets, and on which 
is now located the homes of Col. Clark, John M. Redmond, E. E. Rothrock, Jno. 
B. Henderson, Henry Soutter, Chas. J. Fox, Wm. J. Greene, and a number of 
others. Mr. Weare paid taxes on several other lots and also some personal 
property. 

Greo. Parr paid the tax on lot 2, block 21, value $300.00. This was his home 
lot and on which he had a good brick house. This was on C avenue and has now 
been entirely taken up by the Quaker Oats mill plant. 

C. B. Rowley was the owTier of several pieces of city property. Lots 1 and 2, 
block 31. which was valued at $875.00, was owned by him. The Perfection Man- 
ufacturing Company is located on lot 1. He was also the owner of lots 1 and 2, 
block 47, corner of Third avenue and Sixth street. The Sisters of ]Mercy now 
own lot 1 and Jos. F. Kouba resides on and owns lot 2, these two last lots were 
valued at $575.00. Mr. Rowley was engaged in buying grain and other farm 
produce. The warehouse was located on ground now occupied by the Quaker 
Oats plant. He was for a number of years a member of the school board of this 
city. 

S. A. Shattuck was assessed with lots 4 and 5, block 29, which were valued at 
$650.00. On these two lots he paid a tax of $1.30. Jlr. Shattuck built his home 
on lot 5 over fifty years ago and here he and his wife lived imtil his death. 
Mr. Shattuck was one of the pioneer business men of Cedar Rapids. He came 
here in 1852, and was active in a business way until a very recent date. He was 
a partner of Geo. Dewey under the firm name of Shattuck & Dewey, and together 
they had a store on First street. Mr. Shattuck built the three store brick build- 
ing now standing on First avenue between the alley and Second street and then 
known as the Franklin block. Frank Kilborn owns one of the store rooms today. 

Wm. Stewart became a taxpa.yer in Cedar Rapids at a very early day. He 
came here in 1847. Fifty years ago he was the owner of lot 9, block 16, valued 
at $700.00. This is on First avenue between Second and Third streets, and is now 
occupied by Russell Confection store. He was also owner of part of the property 
on which the Y. M. C. A. building is now located. Mr. Stewart was a blacksmith, 
plowniaker, and had a shop on A avenue. Ex-Alderman Jas. Hughes is now en- 
gaged in nearly the same business and in the same building that Mr. Stewart built 
and occupied fifty years ago. 

M. S. Starr was assessed with lot 10, block 5, valued at $750.00. This is the 
property on which T. J. Lowell has his hardware store. 





COE COLLEGE BUILDINGS 



CEDAR RAPIDS 353 

J. J. SnoufTer was the owner of lot 6, block 3. This property was valued at 
that period at $l,00().00 and is the comer on which the Commercial National Bank 
is located, and a part of the Deneeke Dry Goods store. Mr. SnoufTer also owned 
a lot on Nortli First street opposite the mills, which was asspjiscd at $700.00, also 
personal property valued at $130.00. 

Mr. Snouffer came to Cedar Rapids in 1852, and was engaged in milling under 
the firm name of W. D. Watrous & Co. He was an alderman from the first ward 
for many terms and at one time maj-or of the city. 

D. F. Sprague was assessed with lot 5, block 25, which was listed at $500.00. 
This is the lot on which the Muskwaki block is located, comer of Second avenue 
and Fourth street. 

Peter Snyder was the owner of lot 6, block 11, valued at $425.00. This prop- 
erty is on the corner of Sixth avenue and Third street. 

C. C. Taylor was listed with lot 6, block 32 and valued at $425.00. This is 
the comer of Second avenue and Fifth street and was the home of B. F. Rowland 
for many years. It is now occupied by the new and beautiful home of the Cedar 
Rapids Business college. 

T. NYood was the owner of several pieces of Cedar Rapids property, in all 
amounting to $1,650.00, on which he paid a tax of $3.30. His home was on the 
comer of Fifth street and B avenue. He also was the owner of the lot on which 
the Y. yi. C. A. building is located, which was valued at $900.00; also a lot, corner 
of Fifth avenue and Sixth street. Mr. Edwin Wood, for many years connected 
with the J. S. Cook Dn- Goods Co., was a son of Mr. Wood. 

The Iowa & Nebraska Land Company were assessed with 29 city lots and all 
valued at $6,875.00, the tax of which was $13.75. The Iowa & Nebraska railroad, 
from Clinton to this place, was then being built. It was nearly completed to this 
point and these lots were doubtless purchased for right of way and terminal pur- 
poses, as they were all situated on or near where the road was built. The next 
spring, after the road was open for traffic to this point, lot 1, block 25 was assessed 
to unknown owner and was valued at $700. This is the lot upon which the First 
Presbyterian church was built many years ago and remembered by the older resi- 
dents as the "Little Muddy." The new federal building is now erected on this lot. 

Lot 1, block 26 was also assessed to unknown owners and was valued at $575.00. 
This lot is on the comer of Third street and Third avenue and was used up to a 
ver>' recent date by the Second Presbyterian church. 

Lots 3, 4 and 5, block 30 was also in the unknown list and was valued at 
$1,075.00 for the entire three lot.s. Two of these lots were bought about this time 
and the third one a little later for school purposes and on this ground was erected 
the first real substantial school building ever built in this city. In this building 
was grouped the high school and all the other grades from the primary up. This 
building was used for school purposes until demolished a few years ago to make 
room for the present Washington high school building. 

Lots 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, block 13 were asses.sed to unknown owners at a value of 
$1,100.00. These lots are on Fourth avenue and between Second and Third streets. 
The new telephone exchange is located on the rear of lot 10. 

TPLXT OF THE ACT TO INCORPORATE CEDAR RAPIDS 

Following is Uie text of the act incorporating Cedar Rapids, as passed by the 
legislature of the State of Iowa and approved by Ansel Briggs, Iowa's first gov- 
ernor, Januarj- 15, 1849: 

An Act to Incorporate the Tow^n of Cedar Rapids, in Linn County. 

Sfxtion 1. Be it enacted by the General A.ssembly of the State of Iowa, that 
all that part of the State of Iowa included within the boundaries of the town of 



354 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Cedar Rapids in Linn County, as surveyed and recorded in the recorder's office 
in the said County of Linn, be and the same is hereby constituted a town corporate 
and shall hereafter be know-n by the name of the towTi of Cedar Rapids. 

Sec. 2. It shall be lawful for the free male inhabitants of said town having 
the qualifications of electors to meet at the usual place of holding the elections in 
said town on the first Wednesday in April next and on the fir.st Wednesday of 
April annually thereafter at such place in said town as the town council shall 
direct and then and there proceed to elect by ballot a mayor, recorder and three 
couneilmen, who shall have the qualifications of electors, and reside within the 
corporate limits of said town, and said mayor, recorder and couneilmen shall hold 
their offices one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified and any 
three of them shall be a board for the transaction of busine.ss, but a less number 
may adjourn from time to time until a quorum shall assemble. 

Sec. 3. That at the first election under this act judges and clerks shall be 
chosen by the electors present who shall each take an oath faithfully to discharge 
the duties required by this act and at all subsequent elections the mayor and any 
two of the couneilmen shall sit as judges and the recorder, or in his absence some 
one of the council pro tempore shall act as clerk and at all such elections the polls 
shall be opened at 1:00 o'clock, p. m. and close at 5:00 o'clock p. m., of the same 
day, and at the close of the polls the votes shall be counted and a sta.tement of the 
result proclaimed at the door by the clerk ; the clerk of said elections shall there- 
upon make out a certificate to each of the persons so elected and the persons re- 
ceiving such certificate shall, within ten days thereafter take an oath to support 
the constitution and the laws of the United States and of this state and faithfully 
discharge his duties according to the best of his abilities, which oath shall be en- 
dorsed on the back of said certificate and filed with the recorder of said town. 

Sec. 4. The mayor, recorder and couneilmen of said town shall be a body 
corporate and politic with perpetual succession to be known by the name of the 
mayor and council of the town of Cedar Rapids, and shall be capable in law to 
acquire property, real, personal and mixed for the use of said town and sell and 
convey the same. May have a common seal and may alter the same at pleasure. 
May sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer or be answered unto in any 
court of law and equity in this state; and when any suit shall be commenced 
against said corporation a certified copy of any ■m-it issued against said corpor- 
ation shall be left with the recorder of said town at least ten days before the 
return day thereof. 

Sec. 5. That the mayor, recorder and council, or a majority of them, of whom 
the mayor or the recorder shall always be one, shall have authority to make, or- 
dain, and publish all by-laws and ordinances not ineonsist^ent with the constitu- 
tion and laws of the land as they may deem proper for the promotion of morality, 
interest, safety, health and cleanliness of said town and the citizens thereof; they 
shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen by death or otherwise of any 
of the officers of their board herein named. They shall have power to appoint a 
treasurer, marshal and .such other subordinate officers as a majority of said council 
may deem necessary, to prescribe their duties and require surety of their perform- 
ance, to remove them at pleasure, and to establish the fees of all offices not other- 
wise provided for by this act. They shall have power to impose fines for the 
breach of their ordinances, which fines may be recovered with costs before any jus- 
tice of the peace in said town by an action of debt in the name of said corporation. 
All fines collected in pursuance of this act shall be paid over by the officer 
collecting the .same to the treasiu'er of the corporation. 

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the mayor to preside at the meetings of the 
town council, and it shall be the duty of the recorder to keep a true record of the 
by-laws and ordinances, to attend all meetings of the council and keep a fair and 
accurate record of their proceedings and perfonn such other duties as the council 



CEDAR RAPIDS 355 

may from time to time require. Said recorder may luider his hand and seal 
appoint a deputy to perform his duties when absent, for whose acts the said re- 
corder shall be responsible. 

Sec. 7. That the town council shall have power to assess for corporation pur- 
poses an annual tax on all property in said town made subject to taxation by the 
laws of this state for state and county purposes not exceeding in any one year one 
per centum on the valuation thereof which value shall be ascertained by an as- 
sessor appointed by the town council for that purpose, duplicate of which shall 
be made out and signed by tlie recorder and delivered to the collector. They shall 
have power to equalize any injudicious assessment then made on complaint of 
the person aggrieved. 

Sec. 8. That the town marshal shall be the collector of any tax assessed by 
said council, and he is hereby authorized and required, by distress and sale of 
property, as constables on execution, to collect and pay over said tax to the 
treasurer witliiu three months after the time of receiving the duplicate thereof and 
the treasurer's receipt shall be his voucher. The town marshal shall make per- 
sonal demand of everj- resident charged with tax if to be found, and before sale 
of property for delinquent tax shall give ten days' notice in advertisement in 
three of the most public places in said corporation, and if the property or any lot 
or piece of land for which no personal property can be found shall remain un- 
paid for three months after the expiration of the time by this act allowed the 
collector for the collection of the tax shall give notice in the nearest newspaper 
stating the amount of such tax and the number and description of the lots on 
which it is due and that the same will be sold to discharge such tax unless the 
payment thereof be made within three months from the date of such advertise- 
ment, and if such tax be not paid within that time the town marshal, after giving 
twenty days' notice of the time and place of sale at the three most public places 
in said town shall proceed to sell at public auction so much of said lot or piece of 
land as will discharge said tax. 

Sec. 9. That if the owner of any lot sold for taxes as aforesaid shall appear 
at any time within two years after such sale and pay the purchase money with 
interest at thirty per centum per annum thereon he shall be entitled to the right 
of redemption. If, however, the owner or his acrent shall neglect to redeem any 
real estate sold for taxes under the provisions of this act within the time herein 
specified, it shall be the duty of the mayor to make and execute a deed to the 
purchaser countersigned by the recorder under the seal of the corporation. Said 
deeds shall also be acknowledeed before a justice of the peace, and when so exe- 
cuted and recorded in the office of recorder of deeds of Linn County, shall be 
deemed and taken a.s valid by law. 

Sec. 10. Twenty days Iwfore each annual election the town council shall put 
up in some conspicuous place within said town, an accurate account of the money 
received and expended by said corporation since the last annual election, with 
the sources from which they were derived and the objects on which they were 
expended, which shall be certified by the recorder. 

Sec. 11. The said corporation shall have power to regulate all streets, alleys, 
sidewalks, drains or sewers, to sink and keep in repair public wells, remove 
nnisances, and make other sueh needful regulations not incompatible with the 
laws of the .state as shall conduce to the general interest and welfare of the in- 
habitants of said town. To provide for licensing, taxing and regulating auctions, 
retailers and taverns, theatrical and other shows of amusement, to prohibit tip- 
pling hiiuses. gaming houses and other disorderly houses. 

Sec. 12. The by-laws and ordinances of .said eorjioration shall be pulilished 
in a newspaper in the county or posted up in .some public j)laee in said town 
fifteen days before taking effect thereof, and the certificate of the recorder upon 
the town records shall be sufficient evidence of the same ha\'ing been done and 



356 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

every annual election herein authorized shall be preceded by five days' notice 
thereof put up in three public places in said town. 

Sec. 13. That the streets and alleys of said town shall constitute one road 
district including the several roads leading from said town for the distance of 
one mile from the corporation limits. 

Sec. 14. That the mayor or a majority of the councilmen may call a meeting 
of the town council whenever in his or their opinion the same may be necessary. 
The mayor and councilmen shall receive such compensation as shall be voted them 
by the inhabitants of said town in legal meeting assembled. 

Sec. 15. This act shall take effect from and after its publication. 

Smiley H. Bonhaji, 

Speaker of House 
John J. Selman, 
Approved January 15th, 1849. President of the Senate 

Ansel Briggs, Governor 
Secretai-y's Ofifice, Iowa City, Iowa, March 27th, 1849. 

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and con-ect copy of the original 
act now on file in the said ofiice. 

JosLVH H. Bonney, Secretary- of State 

FIRST CITY OFFICIALS OP CEDAR RAPIDS 

At 1 o'clock of April 4, 1849, the citizens of Cedar Rapids met at the school 
house, in accordance with the requirements of the law, and proceeded to elect 
town officers under a charter issued by the legislature and approved January 15, 
1849 (for text of this document see Laws of Iowa, 1849, p. 116). The first 
election was in the nature of a mass meeting. William P. Harman was made 
chairman and Arvcn Kennedy, John H. Brooks, and John G. Cole selected as 
judges of election. Eber L. Mansfield was clerk of election. These judges cer- 
tified to choice of votes as follows : 

Mayor, Mai-tin L. Barber. 

Councilmen, Joseph Greene, Stephen L. Pollock, and James Leverich. 

Recorder, Homer Kennedy. 

The mayor immediately took the oath of office before John L. Shearer, justice 
of the peace. 

The fii-st meeting of tlie council was held May 11, 1849. Action was taken ap- 
pointing Lowell Daniels treasurer of the town, to give bonds of $20. It was 
resolved that the municipal seal "shall consist of a raised circle nine-tenths of an 
mch in diameter, enclosing an equilateral triangle." The first ordinance in 
preamble declai'ed that "there exists in the town divei*s unwholesome cellars, 
dung heaps, horse stables, cow stables, barns, yards, hogpens, and other nuis- 
ances." The object of the enactment was to abate these conditions. In July, 
1849, Homer Kennedy resigned as recorder and Porter W. Earle was chosen in 
his place. A sort of omnibus ordinance was passed October 23, 1849. This pro- 
hibited the sale of spirituous liquors, required that shows or other exhibitions 
should pay license of not less than one dollar nor more than ten dollars. A 
further section fixed penalties for disturbance of any public meeting. This ordi- 
nance was given efli'ective publication by being "posted at G. Greene & Bro. 's 
store." Other ordinances, we find, were "posted on John Coffman's door." 
Jolm H. Brooks, mai-shal of the town, was on November 8, 1849. allowed the sum 
of $16.73. Getting possession of so much money he immediately resigned, pre- 
sumably to enjoy it without official cares. 

THE SECOND ELECTION 

The second election was held at the school house April 3, 1850. For mayor 
Martin L. Barber received 39 votes and Johnson Hill 27. For recorder John 



CEUAK HAPIDS .{57 

ralmcr received bij uud Liiwsun Daniels 1. Steplu'ii I,. I'olliH-k, 'I'lKiiuas Down- 
ing and Charles C Cook were the successful eouncilinen. the defeated candidates 
being George II. Ely, Joseph Greene, Isaac Conk, niid W. P. Ilarnum. 

This new council on April 11, 185(1, resolved to form a hoard of health, but at 
the next meeting this action was rescinded. In its stead an ordinance was piussed 
for presentation of pid)lic health. Enfon-enient of these provisions rested with 
the marshal. In -May an ordinance was passed permitting Harvey C. Iligley to 
retail ardent spirits, upon giving a good and sutlicient bond "to keep a good and 
orderly house, not permitting any gambling, drunkenness or rioting about his 
house or premises." Such bond -Mr. Iligley refused to execute, and the employ- 
ment of counsel was authorized to commence suit against him for violation of 
ordinance. July 24 a he;ilth board was appointed consisting of Di-s. J. F. Ely, 
S. D. Carpenter, and J. C. Traer. The marshal, under direction of the board, was 
to abate all nui.sances. The first recorders of the city were evidently not of fi.xed 
mind or habitation. John Palmer resigned as such December 8, and S. C. Kooutz 
was chosen to till the vacancy, Isaac Cook was made attorney for the city in 
pending litigation. 

THE FIRST T.AX LEVY 

The first tax levy mentioned wjis ordered by action of council December 16, 
1850. This amounted to "one and one-half mills on the dollar of all taxable 
property within the corporation," and Johnson Ilill was appointed assessor. 
Another ordinance to prevent the sale of spiritous and intoxicating liquors was 
passed December 16, 1850. Any quantity less than a gallon sold "without ad- 
vice of a physician," rendered the seller liable to a fine of not less than five 
dollars nor more than twenty-five. A license fee of from one to five dollars was 
exacted from all peddlers, whether they were footmen with packs or sold goods 
from wagons. 

THE ELECTION OF 1 85 I 

Annual town election was again held in Aj)ril. 1851. At this time Nicholas 
B. Brown was chosen as mayor. Benjamin Weizer, Michael Bryan, and Joseph A. 
Love, eouncilmen. and S. C. Koontz, recorder. William G. Furman was appointed 
marshal. The personnel of the board of health was also changed, Dr. L. Larrabee, 
Dr. Thomas, and Dr. John F. Ely constituting the same. 

No recorded meeting of council was held from June 20, 1851, to February 24 
of the next year. At this latter date N. B. Brown, mayor, by advice and consent 
of the eouncilmen, "did grant license to David W. King for free navigation of the 
Cedar River, opposite this place, for the term of one year from the 1st day of 
.March, 1857, by the said D. W. King paying to the recorder the sum of ten dol- 
lars." The council fixed rates of toll as follows: Horse and rider 10 cents; 
footmen, 5 cents ; one horse and wagon, 15 cents : a wagon and two horses, 20 cents ; 
and every additional span of horses or yoke of cattle, 20 cents. Loose cattle not 
exceeding five in number, he shall be allowed 5 cents per head; if more than that 
number, 3 cents per head. Hogs, if not exceeding twenty-five in number, shall 
be 2 cents per head; if more than that number the toll shall be 1 cent per head. 
Sheep at the rate of 1 cent per head. 

THE FIRST SIDEWALK ORDINANCE 

The first sidewalk ordinance stipulated : "The sidewalks of Commercial street 
shall be planked or paved, commencing at the corner of Benton and Commer- 
cial streets, northeast side, and ending at the comer of Sugar and Commercial 
streets. Al.so on the southwest side of said street, commencing at the southeast 
side of Rock and Rrather's shf>p and coming \ip as far as Linn street. In case 



358 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

where planked the plank to be oak and not less than one and one-half inches in 
thickness, also to be placed upon a good and permanent foundation. In the 
front of buildings the walk to be made ten feet in width, not less than five stringers 
to be used. In front of lots or parts of lots not occupied by buildings it is only 
required that walks be made five feet in width, in which case three stringers are 
sufficient, but not less than three. All of which must be completed by the 1st 
of September, 1852." 

Samuel Brazelton was appointed marshal, Dr. Koontz treasurer, and Dr. S. D. 
Carpenter, "Wm. D. Wood, and Porter W. Earle, health board. 

THE ELECTION OF I 853 

In 1853 election was held on Wethiesday. April 6. AY. W. Smith was chosen 
mayor; S. C. Bever, Johnson Ilill, and J. F. Ely, couneilmen; and S. C. Koontz. 
recorder. Hiram Deem was appointed assessor, Isaac N. "Whittam, tovra marshal. 
At this same date. May 6, 1853. John F. Ely was made committee to secure a 
surveyor, "Major McKean, or some other suitable person to take and establish 
the grades of the city of Cedar Rapids." Pratt R. Skinner was the person 
selected and his report and profile were presented and adopted July 6, 1853. 
Hiram Deem was made marshal July 23, Mr. "Whittam evidently not having 
qualified. At this meeting a municipal tax levy of four mills ".vas ordered. Hi- 
ram Deem, having accomplished his work as assessor, and now being marshal, was 
instructed to collect the taxes. He was further directed to order out men to work 
the roads and streets immediately. 

THE CEMETERIES 

The beginning of Oak Hill cemetery dates from an ordinance of August 23. 
1853. Gabriel Carpenter had purchased 300 acres of land adjoining the cit\- 
and including the site of the cemetery. The place of burial at that time was upon 
the ground after o^raed by Coe College. The ordinance enacted that "the 
proposition made by G. Carpenter in respect to ten acres of land for purpose of 
graveyard be filed and accepted. Provided, however, that if the collegiate insti- 
tute will pay the aforesaid G. Carpenter for the aforementioned ten acres of land, 
and, further provided, that if the mayor and council hold and possess the power 
and right to sell and convey the lot of land now occupied by a grave.yard (within 
the corporate limits) and can sell and convey the same to the Collegiate Institute 
for tlie sum of three hundred dollars, then the afore-mentioned proposition is 
accepted." 

The legal and other difficulties in the way were surmounted and on Februarj- 
22, 1854, it was resolved to quit claim the interest of the to\^ni in the present 
burial ground to Smith and Carpenter, at such time as they shall lay off and deed 
to the corporation a block of ground in the Washington cemetery for a "potter's 
field," which shall contain at least three acres. It was conditioned also that 
Smith and Carpenter should give bond for the careful removal of all occupants 
of the present burial ground before making any use of the land. 

ELECTION OF 1 854 

On April 3, 1854, William W. Smith was elected mayor, William Greene. 
Abraham Sines, and Daniel Lothian, couneilmen, and William M. Wood, recorder. 
The digging of sand from Iowa avenue was dignified by name of bringing to 
prade. This was divided into six parts, and two were let to W. W. Smith and 
E. Robins. These paid five dollars apiece for the privilege. The other sections 
remained as before and the avenue was rendered impa.ssable. J. J. Snouffer was 



CEDAR RAPIDS 359 

appointed marshal for ensuing year and R. C. Rock treasurer. The famous ' ' hog 
ordinance," which was intended to keep swine from tlie stivet but failed abso- 
lutely in its purpose, was introduced June 28, 1854. 

ELECTION OF 1855 

George Greene was elected nuiyor April 4, 1855. Members of the council were 
first styled aldermen on the tickets for this year and R. C. Rock, Joseph A. Ijove, 
and J. F. Charles were chosen. \V. 1). Watrous was the choice of the voters for 
recorder. J. II. Atwell was appointed marshal and S. D. Carpenter, treasurer. 
The council was organized into proper committees, indicating tluit more business 
came bcfon* the body. The bond of the treasurer had l)y this time increased to 
one thousand dollars. A city attorney was elected June 5, 1855, James J. Child 
being the choice of the council. Tlie report of the finance committee showed a 
deficit — the city's revenues lacking $75.00 of meeting expenses. 

ELECTION OF I 856 

Isaac "Whittam was elected mayor at the April election in 1856, with Walker, 
Smith, and Ilager, councilmen. The recorder having resigned, D. M. Mc- 
intosh was elected by the council to that ofiice. The ferry privileges had passed 
at death of D. W. King in 1854 to Stephen L. Pollock and afterwards to Bowling 
& Gill>reatli. Both of these failed to pay for licen.sc, and the recorder was in- 
structed to collect ; Joseph HoUan was appointed road supervisor. 

On Jiuie 14, 1856, City Attorney James J. Child was instructed to prepare 
an amended cliarter to be submitted to the next legislature. This was accepted 
by council, June 28, 1856. The proposition was then submitted to the voters 
and adopted 45 to 2. An election for city ofiicers under this new charter was 
ordered to be held at the office of J. J. Child August 7, 1856. The votes cast were 
canvassed by the council. It was found that 204 votes were cast for mayor, of 
which Isaac X. Whittam received 120 and W. W. Smith 84. For recorder and 
assessor D. M. Mcintosh led with 123 ; F. P. Huntington 78 ; E. N. Bates and S. C. 
Koontz one each. For treasurer and collector S. C. Koontz received 121 votes 
and John P. Conkey 79. Charles Weare was elected marshal by a vote of 1."^!. 
In vote for aldenncn in the first ward J. T. Walker was elected and J. J. SnoufTer 
and H. G. -\ngle were tied. Alexander Ilager and J. F. Charles were chosen to 
represent the second ward, and Henry S. Ward and W. D. Watrous were duly 
elected from the third ward. 

This closes the official doings under the old town. The records consulted will 
satisfy and settle all disputed ((uestions as to office-holding and the statements 
her»' made are correct beyond all f|ucstion. 

OFFICIALS OF CEDAR R.APIDS FROM 1857TO I91O 

1857 Isjiac X. Whittam. mayor: F. P. Huntington, recorder; S. C. Lampson, 
marshal; S. C. Koontz, treasurer; E. N. Bates, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. 
Snouffer, John G. Graves, S. D. Carpenter, J. J. Child, William Richmond, A. 
Whitenack. 

1858 R. C. Roi-k, mayor; George Seymour, recorder; C. T. Kellogg, marshal; 
S. C. K(Htntz. treasurer; A. S. Belt, city nttonu-y. .Mdermen, J. J. SnoufTer. 
John G. Graves, D. X. Sprague, R. R. Taylor, William Richmond, S. A. Shat 
tuck. 

18.59 D. X. Sprague. mayor; Ge<irge Seymour, recorder; William McMahone. 
marshal; S. C. Koontz. treasurer; E. .\'. Hates, city attorney. Aldermen, John G. 



360 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Graves, T. Z. Cook, D. M. Jlclntosh, Charles Weare, S. A. Shattuck, G. Liveus- 
barger. 

1860 E. H. Stedman, mayor ; George Seymour, recorder ; Benjamin Darnell, 
marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, 
T. Z. Cook, A. Hager, W. B. Mack, R. P. Kingman, G. Livensbargerj J. P. Coulter. 

1861 Homer Bishop, mayor; M. A. Higley. recorder; Benjamin Darnell, 
marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; I. X. Whittam, eitv attomev. Aldermen. S. C. 
Bever, H. E. Higley, R. P. Kingman, I. W. Can-oil, J. C. Adams, George Dewey. 

1862 T. Z. Cook, mayor; S. C. Koontz, recorder; J. Hogendobler, marshal; 
J. S. Wattles, treasurer; A. S. Belt, eitv attorney. Aldermen, S. C. Bever, H E 
Higley, I. W. Carroll, H. B. Stibbs, George Dewey, S. G. ileClelland. 

1863 Mowry Faruum, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; A. Laurance. 
marshal; Benjamin Ilan-ison. treasurer; no city attorney elected. xVldermen. 
S. C. Bever, D. Denliuger. H. B. Stibbs. 1. W. CaVrolI. S. G. lAIeClelland. Thomas 
Slonaker. 

1864 Mowry Farnum, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; A. Laurance, 
marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, eitv attorney. Alder- 
men, S. C. Bever, E. H. Stedman, D. Denlinger, Joseph Hollan, S. G. McClelland, 
Thomas Slonaker. 

1865 H. Church, mayor; George C. Haman. recorder; T. M. Parsons, mar- 
shal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; J. J. Child, city attorney. Aldermen. 
S. C. Bever, E. E. Leach, D. Denlinger, Charles Weare. Q. Livensbarger, J. C. 
Adams. 

1866 A. R. West, mayor ; George C. Haman, recorder ; J. 0. Stewart, marshal ; 
Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; J. J. Child, city attomev. Aldermen, J. J. 
Snouffer, J. Wetzel. H. B. Stibbs, N. S. Mershon, j. C. Adams, J. A. Hart. 

1867 A. R. West, mayor; D. A. Bradley, recorder; A. Laurance, marslial; 
Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; L N. Whittam, eitv attoraev. Aldermen. J. J. 
Snouffer, J. Wetzel, H. B. Stibbs. E. Robbius, J. A. Hart,"L. Wallace. 

1868 J. P. Coulter, mayor ; D. A. Bradley, recorder ; A. Laurance, mai-shal ; 
Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam. eitv attorney. Aldermen, J. 
Wetzel, A. C. Churchill, E. Robbins, E. E. Leach. William Stewart. James Al- 
bright. 

1869 A. R. West, mayor; George C. Hainan, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; 
Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney; P. C. Lusk, chief 
engineer. Aldermen, A. C. Churchill, E. S. Hill, E. E. Leach, D. Denlinger. 
William Stewart, J. P. Charles. 

1870 William B. Leach, mayor; W. B. Stewart, recorder; A. Laurance, mar- 
shal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; M. P. Mills, city attorney; George A. Lin- 
coln, chief engineer. Aldermen. E. S. Hill, J. J. Snouffer, E.E. Leach, E. Rob- 
bins, William Stewart. Elihu Baker. 

1871 T. Z. Cook, mayor; H. J. Harvey, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, 
treasurer; Hiel Hale, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; A. Laurance. 
marshal ; R. II. Gilmore. eitv attorney. Aldermen. J. J. Snouffer, I. H. Shaver, 
E. E. Leach, C. C. Cook, William Stewart, J. L. Bever, James Bell. 

1872 E. S. Hill, mayor; A. St. Clair Smith, police judge; Benjamin Har- 
rison, treasurer; George L. Stearns, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; 
Hiel Hale, mai-shal ; I. N. Whittam, eitv attorney. Aldermen. J. L. Bever, 
C. H. Clark, I. H. Shaver, C. C. Cook. W.' Stewart. George Dale, G. M. Howlett, 
E. E. Leach. 

1873 J. F. Charles, mayor; A. St. Clair Smith, police judge; Benjamin Har- 
rison, treasurer; George L. Stearns, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; 
Hiel Hale, marshal ; West & Eastman, city attorneys. Aldermen, J. L. Bever. 
C. C. Cook, C. H. Clark, George Dale, Henrv Forsvthe, S. T. Wier, G. M. JHowlett. 
W. S. Bradley. 



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CEDAR KAPIDS 361 

1874 A. B. Hull, mayor; II. J. Harvey, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, 
treasurer; E. S. Hill, eliief engineer; J. C Stoddard, recorder; Hie! Hale, mar- 
shal; A. D. Collier, citv attornev. Aldermen. F. J. Upton, C. C. Cook, C. H. 
Clark, W. S. Bradlev, M. V. Mills, J. H. Smith, E. L. Mansfield, C. H. Clark. 
George A. Lincoln, S. T. Wier. 

1875 J. 11. Smith, mayor; I. N. Wliittam, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, 
treasurer; Hiel Hale, chief engineer; A. G. Plum, recorder; Hiel Hale, marshal; 

F. C. Hormel, citv attornev. Aldermen, R. Cornish, A. T. Averill, U. C. Blake, 

G. A. Lincoln. M. P. Mills, W. S. Bradlev. S. T. Wier, C. H. Clark, F. J. Upton, 
E. L. Mansfield. 

187G J. H. Smith, mayor; 1. X. Whittam, police judge; Benjamin Har- 
rison, trea.surer; George A. Lincoln, diief engineer; A. G. Plum, recorder; Hiel 
Hale, marshal; F. C. Hormel, eitv attorney. Aldermen, J. J. SnoutTer, V. (■. 
Blake, E. K. Larimer. AV. S. Bradley. A. Mann, O. C. L. Jones. S. T. Wier, JI. P. 
Mills, R. Cornish, D. H. Richards. 

1877 W. S. Bradley, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; Benjamin Harri- 
son, treasurer: C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; A. G. Plumb, recoriler; Hiel Hale, 
marshal ; F. C. Hormel, city attorney. Aldermen, C. Magnus, E. K. Larimer, 
A. R. Foote, U. C. Blake. 0. C. L. Jones, D. II. Richards, J. J. Snouffer, D. T. 
Brown, A. Mann, Frank Witousek, D. B. Ramsdell, Samuel ^liller. 

1878 J. T. Hamilton, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, 
treasurer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; George A. Lincoln, recorder; II. C. More- 
head, marshal ; I. X. ^Vh^ttam, citv attornev. Aldermen, J. J. SnoufTer, C. 
Magnus. D. T. Bro\ra, W. W. Smith, U. C. Blake, A. R. Foote, 0. C. L. Jones, 
H. G. Bowman, E. R. Earl, Frank Witousek, James Morton, E. L. Mansfield. 

1879 0. X. Hull, mayor; \V. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treas- 
urer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer Jackson, 
marshal; I. X. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, John Meehan, W. W. Smith, 
E. R. Earl. John Gates. John Dale, James Morton, A. Van Vleck, L. E. Jenkins, 
FI. G. Bowman, J. J. SnoufFer, O. C. L. Jones, E. L. Mansfield. 

1880 J. H. Smith, mayor; \V. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treas- 
urer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer .Jackson, 
marshal ; C. J. Deacon, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. SnoufTer, John Gates, 
John Dale. P. Mullalv. A. Van Vleck, L. E. Jenkins. William Stewart, James 
Morton, E. R. Earl, John ^leehan, E. L. Mansfield. W'. A. Fulkerson. 

1881 J. H. Smith, mayor; W. B. Leach, suiierior judge; A. G. Plumb, treas- 
urer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer Jackson, 
marshal; C. J. Deacon, city attornev. Aldermen, John Meehan. William Stew- 
art. E. R. Earl, John Gates, J. M. Searles, E. L. Mansfield. J. R. Morin, M. P. 
Mills. James Morton. J. J. SnouflFer, A. St. Clair Smith. W. \. Fulkerson. 

1882 Charles A. Clark, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, 
treasurer; G. H. Murphy, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer 
Jackson, marshal; J. J. Powell, eitv attorney. Aldermen, J. J. SnonfTer, John 
Gates, J. M. Searles. P. Martel, J. R. Morin, M. P. Mills, A. Van Vleck, T. M. 
Giberson, E. R. Earl. John Meehan, C. D. Van Vechten, W. A. Fulkerson. 

1883 John W. Henderson, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judtre; A. G. 
Plumb, treasurer; L. ^I. Ayers. chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; P. II. 
Francis, marshal ; J. J. Powell, city attorney. Aldermen, John Meehan, P. Mar- 
tel. M. P. Mills, John Gates, A. Van Vleck, James Fair, Frank Kouba, J. M. 
Searles, T. M. Giberson, J. J. SnoufTer, C. D. Van Vechten, W. A. Fulkerson. 

1884 C. W^. Eaton, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, 
treasurer; L. M. Ayers. chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. II. Francis, 
marshal: I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. SnoufTer, John G.atcs. 
W. A. Fulkerson. O. M. Olmsted. Frank Kouba. J. M. Searles, A. Van Vloek. 
T. M. Giberson, M. P Mills. John M.ehan. C. D Van Vechten. C. B. Kennedy. 



362 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

1885 F. C. Hormel, mayor; J. T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, 
treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; Michael Healy, 
marshal; A. R. West, city attorney. Aldermen, H. T. BrowTQ, G. M. Olmsted, 
C. F. Earl, Joseph Moore, John Gates, A. Van Vleck, T. M. Giberson, A. H. Con- 
nor, J. W. Shapely, J. R. Jlorin, A. J. Mallahan, W. A. Fulkerson, A. D. Stevens, 
E. I. Foster, J. J. Snouffer, M. P. Mills, C. D. Van Vechten, J. F. Vondracek. 

1886 C. W. Eaton, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stod- 
dard, treasurer; L. IM. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. 
Francis, marshal; ]\I. P. Smith, city attorney. Aldermen, H. T. Brown, J. R. 
Morin, C. F. Earl, Joseph Moore, George W. Bever, J. M. Miles, R. J. 
Thompson, J. F. Vondracek, A. D. Stevens, John Gates, A. J. Mallahan, 
M. P. Mills, J. W. Shapely, H. 0. Waite, 6. M. Olmsted, H. F. Sutliff, C. D. Van 
Veehten, A. H. Connor. 

1887 C. W. Eaton, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stod- 
dard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. 
Francis, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, George W. Bever, 
J. M. Miles, R. J. Thompson, J. F. Vondracek, Frank Horak, George A. Lincoln, 
W. A. Fulkerson, A. Matyk, H. C. Waite, G. M. Olmsted, H. F. Sutliff, M. P. 
Mills, A. H. Connor, E. I. Foster, John Gates, William King, C. D. Van Vechten, 
W. C. Byers. 

1888 P. Mullaly, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, 
treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. 11. Francis, 
marshal ; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, Frank Horak, George A. 
Lincoln, M. P. Mills, A. Matyk, C. Magnus, J. F. Allison, F. W. Harwood, Ed- 
ward Roddy, E. I. Foster, John Gates, William King, W. A. Fulkerson, W. C. 
Byers, H. C. Waite, G. M. Olmsted, H. V. Ferguson, R. J. Thompson, J. E. 
Lapham. 

1889 P. Mullaly, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, 
treasurer: L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. Francis, 
marshal; L N. Whittam, city attorney; G. A. Mitchell, city engineer. Aldermen, 
C. Magnus, J. F. Allison, F. W. Harwood, Edward Roddy, J. J. Snouffer, George 
A. Lincoln, George W. Noble, F. W. Slapnicka, H. C. Waite, G. 11. Olmsted, 
H. V. Ferguson, R. J. Thompson, J. E. Lapham, F. A. Simmons, Warren Har- 
man, F. J. Shefler, M. Ottmar, W. C. Byers. 

1890 J. J. Snouffer, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stod- 
dard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain. recorder; J. W. 
Hayes, marshal; N. W. Mclvor, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. 
Aldermen. J. J. Snouffer, M. O'Brien. W. Harman, A. St. Clair Smith, G. A. 
Lincoln, George W. Noble, F. W. Slapnicka, J. F. Allison, J. B. Henderson, 
Joseph Zbanek, F. A. Simmons, F. J. Shefler, M. Ottmar. W. C. Byers, J. A. 
Roach, T. C. Munger, A. B. Van Albada, Frank Dietz. 

1891 John B. Henderson, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. 
Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; J. W. 
Hayes, marshal ; N. W. Mclvor, city attorney ; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. Al- 
dermen, M. O'Brien, J. F. Allison, P. H. Francis, J. Zbanek, J. J. Snouffer, 
George W. Noble, F. A. Simmons, F. W. Slapnicka, J. R. Amidon, T. C. Munger, 
M. Ottmar, Frank Dietz, A. St. Clair Smith, F. J. Shefler, A. B. Van Albada, 
6. H. Spalding. 

1892 John B. Henderson, mayor; John T. Stoneman. superior judge; J. C. 
Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; J. D. Blain, recorder; A. W. 
West, marshal: N. W. Mclvor, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. 
Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, George W. Noble, F. A. Simmons, F. W. Slapnicka, 
M. O'Brien, Warren Harman, M. S. Jackson. J. Zbanek, J. R. Amidon, F. J. 
Shefler, M. Ottmar, A. F. Schindle, A. St. Clair Smith, Ed R. Shaw, L. W, 
Richards, J. B. Leverich. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 363 

1893 William P. Daniels, mayor; Thomas M. Uiberson, superior judge; J. C. 
Stoddard, treasurer; J. I). Blain, recorder; A. R. West, marshal; L. M. Ayers, 
chief engineer; Lewis Ileins, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer; hoard of 
public works, J. L. llardwick, chairman, V. II. Swab, W. 1*. Clark. Aldermen. 
M. O'Brien. Charles B.dnar. F. 11. Juckctt. S. J. .Malonev, J. Kozlovskv, I). F. 
Anderson, J. W. Gerber, F. 8. Salda, F. \V. Ilarwood, Ed R. Shaw, L. W. Rich- 
ards, J. B. Leverich, A. St. Clair Smith, J. F. Shefler, L. J. Zika, A. F. Schindler. 

1894 William P. Daniels, mayor; Thoma-s M. Giberson. superior judge; J. C. 
Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayei-s, chief engineer; J. D. Blain, recorder; Thomas 
Farmer, marshal ; Lewis lleins, city attorney ; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. Board 
of public works, Ilosmer Tuttle, chairman. Aldermen, Joseph Kozlovsky, D. F. 
Andersim, J. W. Gerber. F. S. Salda, (i. iL Scliumm, George Eakle. F. H. 
Juckett, S. J. Maloney, F. W. Hanvood, F. J. Shefler, L. J. Zika, A. F. Schindler, 
Charles Weare, S. L. Rudolph, W. A. Smith, J. B. Leverich. 

1893 George A. Lincoln, mayor; T. M. Giberson, superior judge; J. C. Stod- 
dard, treasurer; Thonia.s Farmer, marshal; J. D. Bhiin, recorder and assessor; 
William McGowan, chief engineer; Warren Ilarman, city attorney; E. P. Boyn- 
ton, city engineer. Board of public works, Charles Weare, chairman. Alder- 
men, G. M. Schumm, George Yuill, John B. Turner, S. J. Maloney, Ed H. Smith, 
George Eakle, J. W\ Gerber, Joseph Kubicek. F. W. Hanvood, V. W. Johnson, 
James Monilaw, C. F. Hutchens, Charles Weare, S. L. Rudolph, W. A. Smith, 
J. B. Leverich. 

1896 George A. Lincoln, mayor; Thomas M. Giberson, superior judge; 
Thomas Devendorf, trea.surer; William McGowan, Jr., chief engineer; J. D. 
Blain, recorded; Thomas Farmer, marshal; Warren Ilarman, city attorney; E. P. 
Boynton, city engineer. Board of public works, Charles Weare, chairman. Al- 
dermen, Ed H. Smith, George Yuill, W. G. Haskell, S. J. Maloney, W. G. Dows, 
George W. Eakle. John B. Turner, Joseph Kubicek, F. W. Harwood. V. W. 
Johnson. James Monilaw, Henry J. Rapps, C. W. Burton, David W. King, 
Joseph Pitlik, C. F. Hutchens. 

1897 George A. Lin<'oln, mayor; Thomas M. Gibei-son, .superior judge; 
Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; Thomas Farmer, marshal; J. D. Blain. recorder; 
J. L. Starman, chief engineer; W. Ilarman. city attorney; E. P. Boynton, city 
engineer. Board of public works, Charles Weare, chairman. Aldermen, W. Q. 
Dows, George W. Eakle, W. G. Haskell, John Juza, R. X. Buck, R. D. Mills, 
Joseph Pitlik, S. J. Maloney, F. W. Harwood. Da%-id W. King, J. Y. Kennedy, 
J. B. Leverich, C. W. Burton, V. W. Johnson, J. II. Rothrock, Jr., Henry J. 
Rapps. 

1898 John M. Redmond, mayor; T. M. Giberson, judge superior court; J. D. 
Blain, recorder; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; J. A. Ilildebrand. a.s.se.sRor; 
Joseph Kozlovsky. inarshal ; John L. Starman, chief of fire department; John 
N. Hughes, eitv attorney; G. H. Merridith, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. Alli- 
son. M. Ottmar, R. X. Buck, George T. Hedges, R. A. Wallace, Charles D. Huston, 
W. G. Haskell, Joseph Pitlik, F. W. Slapnicka. L. M. Rich. 

1899 John M. Redmond, mayor; T. M. Giberson, judge superior court; J. D. 
Blain. recorder; Tlmmas Devendorf, treasurer; J. A. Ilildebrand, assessor; Jos- 
eph Kozlovsky, marshal ; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; Henrv' J. Achter, 
auditor; John X. Hughes, city attorney; G. II. Merridith. city engineer. Alder- 
men, J. F. Alli.son, M. Ottmar, R. \. Btick, George T. Hcdge.s, R. A. Wallace. 
Charles D. Huston, W. O. Haskell, J. P. Grissel. F. W. Slapnicka, L. M. Rich. 

1900 John M. Redmond, mayor; James II. Rothrock, judge superior court; 
J. D. Blain, recorder; Thomas Devendorf, tn>!i.surer; J. A. Ilildebrand. assessor; 
Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal: Joseph P. Cook, chief tire ilepartment; Henry J. 
Achter. audif>>r: John X. Iluehes, city attorney; (J. H. Merridith. city engineer. 
Aldermen J. F. Allison M Ottmar. R X. Buck. Oeorcre T. Hedges, R. A. Wal- 



364 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

lace, Charles D. Huston. W. G. Haskell, J. P. Grissel, F. W. Slapnieka. L. :M. 
Rich. 

1901 Charles D. Huston, mayor ; Henry J. Aehter, auditor ; Thomas Deven- 
dorf, treasurer; George L. Mentzer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph 
P. Cook, chief of fire department; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court; 
John N. Hughes, city attorney ; T. F. McCauley, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. 
Allison, H. Cushman, James H. Hughes. W. L. Cherry, F. E. Cerny, C. H. 
Chandler, Porter Hamilton. John Ea.sker, F. "W. Slapniclia, John F. Powers. 

1902 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Aehter, auditor; Thomas Deven- 
dorf, treasurer; George L. Jlentzer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand. assessor; Joseph 
Kozlovsky, marshal ; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court ; John X. Hughes, 
city attorney; T. F. McCauley, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. Allison, H. 
Cushman, James H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, F. E. Cerny, C. H. Cliandler, Porter 
Hamilton. John Easker, F. W. Slapnieka. 

1903 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Aehter, auditor; Thomas Deven- 
dorf, treasurer; George L. ]Mentzer. recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph 
Kozlovsky, marshal ; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court ; Joseph P. Cook, 
chief fire department; John N. Hughes, city attorney; T. F. McCauley, city 
engineer. Aldermen, H. Cushman, C. 0. Johnson, James H. Hughes, W. L. 
Cherry, George Lightner, D. A. Ross, W. C. Byers, F. W. Barta, D. Feiereisen, 
John F. Powers. 

1904 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Aehter, auditor; Thomas Deven- 
dorf, treasurer; George L. Mentzer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph 
Kozlovsky, mar.shal ; John N. Hughes, city attorney ; T. F. McCauley, city en- 
gineer; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; James H. Rothrock, judge super- 
ior court. Aldermen, H. Cushman, C. 0. Johnson, J. H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, 
George Lightner, D. A. Ross, W. C. Byers, F. W. Barta, D. Feiereisen, J. F. 
Powers. 

1905 Charles D. Huston, mayor ; Henry J. Aehter, auditor ; Thomas Deven- 
dorf, treasurer; H. S. Keifer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Koz- 
lovskj', marshal : John N. Hughes, city attoraey ; T. F. McCauley, city engineer : 
Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; James H. Rotlu-ock. judge superior court. 
Aldermen, H. Cushman, C. 0. Johnson, J. H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, George 
Lightner, D. A. Ross, W. C. Byers. F. W. Barta, D. Feiereisen, J. F. Powers. 

1906-7 Amos H. Connor, mayor; James B. Gourley, auditor; Thomas Deven- 
dorf, treasurer; H. S. Kefl^er, recorder; J. G. Crozer, marshal; Joseph P. Cook, 
chief fire department ; James W. Good, city attorney ; T. R. Warriner, city en- 
gineer. Aldermen, James H. Hughes. W. G. Rowley, George Lightner, D. A. 
Ross, "W. C. Byers, F. W. Barta, J. K. Starman, D. Feiereisen, L. W. Anderson, 
Charles H. Campbell. 

Mayor Connor died while in office and George S. Lightner was chosen for the 
unexpired term. 

The city went under the commission plan of government in 1908, the ofBcers 
being as follows : J. T. Carmody, mayor ; Leslie J. Storey, clerk ; C. D. Huston, 
H. S. Keffer, Jlatt J. Miles, and E. A. Sherman, councilmen; John M. Redmond, 
attorney; Percy P. Smith, engineer. 

Mayor Carmody having died, Matt J. Miles was chosen mayor and J. F. Allison 
councilman to succeed him. 

1910 Malt J. Miles, mayor; Leslie J. Storey, clerk; W. H. Chamberlain, 
attorney; T. F. McCauley, engineer; H. S. Keffer, W. H. Stepanek, Henry Ben- 
nett, and Percy P. Smith, coimcilmen. 

H. S. Keffer later resigned, and A. S. Reed was chosen to fill the vacancy. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 365 

CITY OF CEDAR ILVPIDS AS IT WAS FIFTY YEARS AGO 

The following interesting account of early Cedar Rapids is taken from Voice 
of Iowa for April, 1857, edited by James L. Enos. The article was written by 
Mr. Enos himself: 

"What constitutes the present citj- of Cedar Rapids, is embraced mainly by 
sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, in T. 83 N., R. 7 W.. in the township of Rapids in 
Linn county. The location is one of the most delightful to lie found in any of 
the rich valleys of the west, being on the northeast side of the Cedar river, on 
a plain rising above the river's bed, and reaching hack nearly half a mile, with 
but very slight depres.sions or uprisings, serving to render the plat one of great 
convenience for building, and giving a peculiar grace to it.s appearance. 

"In the rear of this table-land a somewhat abrupt elevation, varying from 
20 to 40 feet, occurs, which is covered with a luxuriant growth of native oak. 
Upon this are the most beautiful and romantic sites for residences, being suffi- 
ciently elevated to overlook the entire valley for miles in either direction. Back 
of this the depressions and elevations alternate, making this portion of the city 
a series of circular, undulating swells. 

"The city proper also extends on the west side of the river and embraces 
numerous other positions which are being occupied with rapiditj* and improved 
with taste, and though not embraced within the present city limits, forms of 
necessity a part of the Valley City. 

"Cedar Rapids is situated due west of Chicago, the present emporium of the 
west, and is the present terminus of the principal tnink railroad from that city 
penetrating the heart of the northwest. It is 75 miles southwest from Dubuque, 
80 miles nearly west from Clinton, about the same distance from Davenport, 55 
miles from .Muscatine, and about 110 from Des Moines — the capital of Iowa. 

NATURAL ADVANTAGES 

"Few interior cities are blessed with more natural advantages than Cedar 
Rapids. The rapids in the Cedar river are the first met with after leaving the 
Mississippi, and no more occur of any considerable amount for many miles above. 
These afford one of the best water powers in the west, and with proper dams would 
afford power sufficient to run all machinery that will ever be required on either 
side of the river, even though our population should reach fifty thousand. Sur- 
rounding the town for miles is one of the richest agricultural district.s in the 
Union, forming a part of the Cedar valley country which Profes.sor Owen has 
taken as his type of perfection in fertility. There is a plentiful supply of 
timber for alt ordinary u.ses — numerous groves are scattered upon the surround- 
ing hills — giving the appearance of an enchanted garden — probably unsurpa.ssed 
in richness by any region of equal extent on the American continent. 

" Its position in reference to other towns and cities is such as must of necessity 
make it a great railroad center, and several are already projected, and one under 
contract to this city. We shall speak more fully of this class of advantages in 
another portion of this article. 

"In point of healthfulne.ss. it will compare favorably with any of the river 
to«Tis, the di.sea.ses In-ing chiefly of a bilious nature, and yielding n>adily to very 
simple treatment. This fact applies with very general truth to all the valle.vs 
of Iowa — while the more elevated districts arc inori' free from malaria, they are 
subject to a disea.se of a more complex and serious character. This may seem 
fabulous to the casual observer, but we feel as.sured that the combined experience 
of western practitioners will bear testimony to the correctness of our statements. 





BLACK HAWK 



^<r-. 

A WINNEBAGO INDIAN 




THE SLAVE DANCE OF THE SAC AND FOX 



CEDAR RAPIDS 367 

SETTLEMENT 

"There is always more or less of interest connected with the (>arly days of 
any city, and it is not until years after that the n^cord becomes of value. The 
pioneer suffers privations and trials of which future occupants can realize but 
little. In fact, the honor paid them is seldom diual to their merits and oftentimes 
tJicy are a.s illy prepared to receive a-s others are to i)estow .sympathy antl praise. 
Amcinp the first settlers of this city were some men of the fin>t character, and are 
yet with us, while others have moved farther on, to enjoy wliat habit has taught 
them to love, a frontier life, and a few have gone down to the gate of common 
entrj', their years being full and their memories yet linger, and make us glad 
that we lived with, knew and loved them. Of this number we name that generous 
and true man, D. W. King, Esq., who departed from our midst in the autumn 
of 1854. 

•'The first man, however, who pitched his tent on the ground now occupied 
by the Valley City, was a counterfeiter and horse thief, of no little notoriety, by 
the name of Shepard, who took up his abode and erected a log house on what is 
now Linn street, near the mills, some time in the year 1838. 

"D. W. King and Thomas Gainer, the first settlers of any advantage t« the 
country, reached here in 1839 and soon after made a permanent settlement on the 
west side of the river. 

"The house of Shepard was soon found to be the home of a lawless band of 
outlaws, who secreted much of their plunder on the islands in the river above 
the city. John Young and a man named Granger were connected with Shepard 
in their work. They stole at one time six hor.«es and made good their escape 
with four of them. Granger was afterwards convicted of passing counterfeit 
money in Chicago and sentenced to the Alton prison for four years. The fate 
of Young is not known with certainty, yet there is evidence to induce the belief 
that he was executed for murder, in a neighboring state, though he assumed a 
different name. 

"The privations of the first settlers were at times very great, and though such 
as are not uncommon in the history of pioneer life, would cause many of our 
amateurs at the present time to sich for the home of their childhood and a place 
at the luxurious tables of their fathers. 

PROGRESS 

"In 1849 D. W. King established ferries for crossing the Cedar, and con- 
tinued to run them up to the time of his death. The one doing most of the 
business was at the Iowa avenue crossing. As it is protiablc that these boats 
will soon, if indeed they have not already made their last voyage, a brief note of 
them may not be out of place in this connection. They were self-propellers, 
being forced across the river by the power of the current. A wire rope exten<led 
across the stream upon which a pulley was placed, and connected by means of 
two ropes to the boat. 

"The first dam across the Cedar was commenced in 1842, and the first saw 
mill erected in 1843, and is still ninning. 

"In Manh, 1843. the lands came into the market. The first flouring mill 
wa-s erected in 1844-.') at a cost of !}!3,0<M), by the present owner. In lS4r) A. Ely 
erected the second saw mill, and the second flouring mill the following .vear, the 
latter costing about $0,000. In 1848-9 the woolen factory was erected at a cost 
of about $8.00(1. The first saw mill was erected in 1850 by Greene. Legare & 
Co. This has a chair and bedstead factory connected and cost about $4,000. 
These are all propelled by water power. In 1855-6, Greene & Graves erwted a 
steam saw mill, and containing al.^o a variety of other machinery'. Tlie first and 



368 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

only mill erected on the west side of the river went into operation in the summer 
of 1856. The first steam engine was stationed in this city by A. Hager, in his 
machine shop, sash, blind, and door factory in 1855. The second by Greene & 
Graves, and the third by S. L. Pollock. 

"The first store was opened by J. Greene, in the building now occupied by the 
postoffice, on the northwest comer of Iowa avenue and "Washington street. 

"The second store was opened by Mr. Cleveland, and C. R. Mulford the 
third. This was located on Commercial street, and was destroyed by fire in 1850, 
being the first building thus destroyed in Cedar Rapids. No fire occurred there- 
after until late in the autumn of 1855, when most of the block embraced on the 
west side of Commercial street, between Iowa avenue and Linn street, was con- 
sumed. No fire has occurred since. 

"The postoffice was established in 1847, and J. Greene appointed postmaster. 

"The first brick buildings were erected in 1844, the building on the southwest 
corner of Iowa avenue and Commercial street, and the dwelling house on the 
northwest corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. The present Union 
House was the first hotel. 

"The village of Cedar Rapids was laid out and the plat recorded in 1842. At 
this time, two log buildings constituted the village, and the total population was 
six persons. 

"A public school house was erected in 1846 or '47, and the first school taught 
by Nelson Felch. This structure is now occupied as a dwelling, on the northwest 
comer of Eagle and Madison streets. The first church, Presbyterian, was erected 
in 1850. 

"The first newspaper was published in 1851 bj- D. 0. Finch, entitled the 
Progressive Era. It was continued under this name by various owners and 
editors until September, 1854, when it was purchased by J. L. Enos and F. A. 
"Wilmans, and its name changed to the Cedar Valley Times by which name it yet 
flourishes. In polities republican, it is at present published by J. G. Davenport. 
The second paper was established in January, 1856, under the editorial manage- 
ment of J. L. Enos, entitled the Cedar Valley Farmer, but was di.scon tinned at the 
close of the first volume. The Cedar Rapids Democrat was the third paper — 
commenced in June, 1856, by W. W. Perkins & Co. This is still published. 
Democratic in politics, the Times and the Democrat are both good papers, and 
appear to be well sustained. 

"The Voice of Iowa was commenced in January, 1857, under the auspices 
of the Iowa Teachers' Association, Phonetic Association, etc., J. L. Enos, editor 
and publishing agent, assisted by a number of corresponding editors. This jour- 
nal has met with more than ordinary success, the circulation passing 1,000 during 
the first three months and commanding nearly ."^1,000 in advertising patronage, 
thus showing that the people of Iowa are ai'oused to the importance of paying due 
attention to the education of their youth. 

"The foundation for a very large graded school was laid in the summer of 
1856, but owing to the large amoimt of work contracted and the scarcity of 
workmen, the completion was of necessity deferred. It is designed to complete 
it early the coming summer, and when fini.shed will form one of the finest educa- 
tional structures in the state. 

"During the past two years the growth of Valley City has been equaled by few 
towns even in the west. It now contains many blocks that would do credit to any 
eastern city. 

"The present city charter was adopted in the summer of 1856, and Isaac 
"Whittam, Esq., was elected mayor. A free bridge across the Cedar was com- 
menced in 1855, and is now ready for crossing by teams. The chief credit of 
this structure is due to a few, though many stood manfully by the free bridge 
and aided liberally in its erection. A charter for a toll bridge was obtained about 




CEDAR RAPIDS COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE 




liEOKGE OREENE SQUARE, SEMI-CENTENNIAL, li)06J 




RIVERSIDE PARK 



CEDAR RAPIDS 



369 



the time that the free bridge charter was jiroeureil. whicli gave rise to a warm 
controversy in whieh much interest was manifest. Tlie free bridge finally 
triumphed, and its noble anhes now span the Cedar with every appearance of 
remaining for many years a proud monument to the energy and liberality of 
those who aided in [dacing it there. We have already intimated that Cedar 
Rapids is the center of a very large and increasing trade, and though not destined 
to become a city of the first magnitude, is destined to rank as one of the principal 
interior cities of Iowa. Its railroad connections — immense water power — the 
fertility of the surrounding ct)untry and the encrgj- of its people will give it rank 
and importajice as a manufacturing city, worthy of note. 

"Nor is this imaginary, as the following statistics will show. Cedar Rapids 
now contains: 4 flouring mills. 2 door, sash and i)lind, and jilaning mills, 1 
cooper and barrel faeton-. .5 wagon and carriiige factories, 1 iron ffU'tory. 2 cab- 
iDet furniture and chair factories, 3 plow factories. 3 boot and shoe fm-tories, 2 
saddle and harness manufactories, 4 tin. eop|)er and sheet iron establishments, 
1 woolen factory, o brick yards. 2 agricultural implement manufactories, 3 mer- 
chant tailor estnblishmcnt.s. 2 wmid turning establishments. 3 newspapers and 




CEDAR RAPIDS IN 1856 



magazines, 1 brick machine fa<'tor>'. 8 grocery* anil provision stores, 5 clothing 
stores, 5 dry-goods stores. 1 millinery and fancy goods store, fi liquor and cigar 
shops, 4 drug stores. 2 silversmith, cluck and jewelry stores. 4 hardware stores. 

3 book stores, 1 book binden.'. 5 public and private halls. 7) hotels, 4 churches, 

4 lumber yards. 3 banking houses, 1 public reading nwni. 1 shaving and hair 
dressing establishment. 

"A paper mill is in contemplation, and there is room and excellent openings 
for other branches of business. 

"A hat and cap manufactory — pork packing establishment — in fjict nearly 
every branch of manufactory not included in the above would do well. There 
are two nurseries contiguous to town, where nearly even.- kin<l of fruit and a large 
variety of ornamental trees can be procured. The Mound nursery is one of the 
oldest juid most extensive in the eountr>', and the proprietor furnishes orders on 
verv liberal terms." 



370 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The following letter to A. T. Hall, as to a gavel, at the meeting of carpenters 
of America at Des Moines, 1910, gives some interesting facts as to early days in 
Cedar Rapids : 

"Dear Sir: In reply to your request for such information as I have con- 
cerning the small mallet or gavel which you had made from a piece of the red 
cedar shaft, I can only say that there is but little to its history. My father, the 
late Nicholas Brodhead Brown, came to what is now the city of Cedar Rapids in 
1S39, but did not remain here at that time. He went as far north as Cedar Falls 
looking for a mill site, and returned to this location in 1840. After building the 
first manufacturing plant in Linn coxmty for the Doty brothers, a saw mill in 
Bertram township, located near the mouth of Indian creek, he began in 1841 to 
improve the waterfall in the Cedar river at this place. He first built a temporary 
dam then built a saw mill, the second to be built in the county, for himself. He 
then began the building of the first flour mill in the county. This mill was 
completed and in operation either in 1843 or 1844, and from this mill came the 
cedar shaft from which the little mallet or gavel was made. There is no doubt 
in my mind about the cedar tree from which the mallet was made was cut very 
close to, and perhaps within the present limits of Cedar Rapids. Nicholas Brod- 
head Brown was in all probability the first mechanic who used edged tools, to 
locate in Cedar Rapids. Nor is there any doubt in my mind about his making the 
shaft above spoken of. It was the real shaft in the old bolting chest in the mill 
known as Brown 's I\Iill. Mr. Brown by occupation was a millwright and through 
force of circumstances worked at that trade for some twelve or fifteen years 
after his arrival here. He especially did all of the millwright ing that he could 
do himself on this mill, working twelve and fourteen hours a day for the purpose 
of getting it into operation as soon as possible, as not only he himself needed its 
income but the country all about this locality needed a mill. 

"Another of the early mechanics to come to Cedar Rapids was Samuel Sher- 
wood, also a millwright. He worked for a time on Brown's flour mill, and on the 
Alexander Ely flour mill, now known as the Anchor mill. This was the second 
mill to begin operation in Cedar Rapids. The Ely mill began operating the 
same year as the Brown's, but later on in the year. Another of the old-time 
mechanics, a user of edged tools, was Joseph Love. He was the first cabinet- 
maker to locate in Cedar Rapids. Another was John Vardy; he was the second 
cabinet-maker to locate in Cedar Rapids, and was the builder of the first house 
in Cedar Rapids to be constructed of sawed lumber. The house still stands — is 
in use and owned by the Starj' family. John F. Boyce, the father of "William and 
Frank Boyce of this city, was another early mechanic. He also was a cabinet- 
maker. Jolm Patterson, an uncle of Chas. A. Calder of this eitj% was another. 
He also was a cabinet-maker. All of these men worked to a greater or less extent 
at the carpenter's trade. In those days there were no trade unions and conse- 
quently no limitations on the kind of work a mechanic should do. To my mind 
these men could be classed as carpenters as well as millwrights and cabinet- 
makers. I should have said that Samuel Sherwood went to Independence from 
this city and became the founder of the milling industry at that thriving little 
place. I have diverged largely from the gavel, but believe it will be interesting 
to yourself and your fraternity to know who the first users of edged tools were 
in this part of Iowa. Respectfullv vours. 

"N.E.Brown." 

HOW THE FIRST RAILROAD CAJME TO CEDAR RAPIDS 

T. DEVENDORF IN THE SUNDAY REPUBLICAN OF JUNE lO, 1906 

The population of the city in 1856 was not to exceed 1.200 to 1,500 people. 
There was little wealth in the community-. No manufacturing enterprises had as 



CEDAR RAPIDS 



371 



yet located here. Tlie principal dependence of the people was in the fanning com- 
munity and the bountiful harvests that Iowa never fails to produce. 

The one great desire and ainliition of tlio jx'ople was for a railrou'l to Ihi^ ea.st 
on which they could tran.sport their surplus |)roduct to an eastern market. Rail- 
road buikling had not been very extensive in the west, the Chicago, Iowa & N'*- 
braska had its track built as far west as the Mississippi river and was formulating 
plans to bridge the river and extend the road across the fertile prairies of Iowa. 
Some of our pioneer citizens with shrewd business instincts and confidence in the 
rapid settlement and development of the state, on the completion of the railroad, 
became interested in this new project and advocated the granting of a loan to 
them provided the road should l)e built to or through our growing city. The 
subject of giving aid to this new proposed railroad was discussed largely among 
the people, and on the 1st day of September, 1856, the city council passed a reso- 
lution instructing the mayor to call an election of the qualified voters of Cedar 
Rapids to vote on the question, shall the city in its corporate capacity subscribe 
Bixty thousand dollars to the capital stock of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska rail- 
road and pay for same in bonds i.ssued by the city. Said bonds were to bear in- 
terest at the rate of ten per cent per annum, and were to mature 20 years after 
date at the option of the city. The election was called by Mayor Isaac Whittam 
and held September 22, 1856, and resulted in the very decisive vote of 111 for 
the proposition and only 2 against it. 




THK GUI) BI.AIR ItriUDI.VC Ni >\V TIIR SITK (1F THK KIMB.M.I, lUlMJJNC. 



372 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

These bonds were to be issued in series as the work on the new road progressed, 
fifteen tliovisand dollars worth when the contract was let for building the road 
from Ue Witt to Cedar Rapids ; the second series of fifteen thousand dollars worth 
when the first five miles of grading were completed in Linn coimty ; and the balance 
of thirty thousand dollars worth when the grading was finished into the city of 
Cedar Rapids and the road in operation and cars rimning as far west as Mt. 
Vernon. 

On the 20th of February, 1857, Mayor Whittam in a report to the city council 
made a statement that he, as representative of the citj', had attended the meeting 
of the stockholders of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska, held on the 25th day of 
January, 1857, at Clinton and at that time had passed over to the railroad com- 
pany the fifteen bonds of one thousand dollars each, to which they were entitled, 
they giving the required stock certificates for same as per agreement. The rail- 
road company also entered into a contract with the city in which they agreed to 
pay interest on said bonds and all others to be issued to the railroad until such 
time as the road should be finished and the cars rmining into the city of Cedar 
Rapids. 

The mayor also comjilimented the men in charge of the affairs of the road as 
men of means, honor, and energj-, and finished his report by predicting that when 
the road was completed it would be of great benefit and advantage to our young 
but growing city. But notwithstanding the financial aid and the general en- 
couragement given by the people the road advanced westward slowly and while 
the grading had been nearly completed there were many other things necessary 
to build a railroad and which could only be had l)y having the ready money with 
which to buy such supplies. In June. 1857, another petition was presented to the 
city council asking that the mayor call an election of the legal voters of the city 
to vote on the question, shall the city issue its bonds to the amount of forty thous- 
and dollars to aid in purchasing the iron rails to complete the road to Cedar 
Rapids, the city to be a subscriber to the capital stock of the road to that amount. 
On July 10, 1857, the mayor called the election to vote on the proposition, shall 
the city in its corporate capacity issue its bonds for forty thousand dollars, the 
money to be used to procure iron rails and for no other purpose. The election 
was held on Juh- 20, 1857, and resulted as follows: For the proposition, 104 
votes; against 25 votes. ' 

These bonds were to be issued in series and were to be paid one-quarter in 13 
years, one-quarter in 14 years, one-quarter in 15 years, and the balance in 16 
years from date. 

Some time after these bonds were issued and turned over to the railroad com- 
pany some legal point was raised touching their validity, and this together with 
the fact that the financial standing of the railroad company in the east among 
the iron manufacturers was not first cla.ss, made it necessary that some other 
plan should be adopted to procure the iron rails to build the road to Cedar Rap- 
ids. Heretofore they had found it i)racticable to survey and locate and grade a 
road and pay for the same in farm products, dry goods and groceries, etc. But 
when it came to buving iron from the manufacturers it required the cash or a 
suitable collateral. But our people were ready to meet this unforeseen emergency. 
Six of our early and more wealthy citizens made notes of $8,000.00 each, each 
note being signed by each of the other gentlemen, making a joint note of each 
one and together amounting to the $48,000.00. These notes were to be used as 
collateral and to strengthen up their credit, so that the iron rails could be bought 
and the road completed to this city. This was purely acconuiiodation paper and 
the road contracted that the interest and principal of these notes should be paid 
by the railroad company from the first net earnings of the company, but in the 
early years of the road there were no net earaings. It was only by the most 
economical management that the operating expenses could be met, and several 



CEDxVK RAPIDS 373 

years elapsed before these notes given to aid the railroad were fully paid. The 
gentlemen aidint: in tiio early eonstruetiou of the first railroad to Cedar liapids 
were Gahriel CarjK'Uter. George Greene, Sampson ('. Bever, J. J. Snonffer. and 
two others whose names are not remembered. 

After the railroad was comph'ted and in operation to this |)laee little was said 
in regard to the.se eity bonds. In the pnK'eedinirs of the city eoiineil .June 13, 
1860, a resolution was passed authorizing K. 11. Stcadinan. the mayor of the eity. 
to represent the eity at the annual meeting of the st<x;klioldei-s of the C, 1. & \. 
Ry., which was to be held in Clinton at a later date. 

On January 25, 18G1. a eommittee was api)ointed consisting of the mayor, 1. 
X. W'hitfam. and Alderman G. Livensbarger who were to examine into the legal 
condition of the eity in relation to the $l(il).(H)(».00 worth of eity bonds already 
issued for railroail i)urpo.ses. What this investigating committee did, and what 
their conclusions were, are not matters of record. Nothing more is said in any 
of the proceedings of the city council in regard to this matter until May 8, 1863, 
when it appears from the preamble of a resolution introduced that the railroad 
company was calling upon the city authorities to comply with the terms of the 
contract entered into wiien the bonds were i.ssued. which was tliat the city should 
pay the interest on such bonds after the completion of the road to this place. 

The road had been finished and in operation some two years and still no in- 
terest had been paid and the city made no efforts to collect any sura for such 
purpose. At the meeting of the council May 8, 1863, a resolution was introduced 
asking that a committee be appointed to investigate and report on tiie recorded 
facts bearing upon this matter of railroad i)onds from its inception to this date. 
Aldermen McClelland, Deulinger and Slonaker were desirous of having light on 
the sub.ject and voted for an investigation, but Aldermen Bever, Carroll and 
Stibbs voted in the negative, and this being a tie vote it was decided by the mayor, 
who also voted in the negative. 

At the council meeting held June 11, 1864. another committee to investigate 
was appointed who was authorized to procure legal advice in regard to the lia- 
bilit}' of the city and also meet and confer with the officers of the railroad com- 
pany, and this conunittee consisting of Aldermen McClelland and E. II. Stead- 
man reported back to the council that they had procured legal advice in the mat- 
ter and from all data and facts collected their attorney was of the opinion that 
the railroad company had no legal claims against the city and that the bonds 
were illegal and void. 

In October of 1864 the same sub.ject came up in the city council and a com- 
mittee of three consisting of S. C. Bever, H. C. Angle and John Weare were ap- 
pointed to confer with the railroad company and get the best terms of settlement 
they coidd, either by taking rei.ssued stock in payment or a certain amount of 
money yearly in full settlement. This committee were prompt in their investiga- 
tions and reported back to the council November 4, 1864. Their report was that 
they had a conference with the railroad company and the best compromise they 
could obtain was this: 

First. That the citj' surrender to the company all its claims to stock in said 
road. 

Second. The railroad company would then return to the city $00,000.00 
worth of the city bonds already issued together with all coupons on the balance, 
leaving in the hands of the company .iilO.OOO.OO worth with all coupons cut off to 
date. This surrendering of bonds to in no way affect the legality of the bonds 
retained, the legal points to be settled later. 

At the meeting of the council Alderman Bever introduced a resolution cover- 
ing all the points made in the report of the committee that the city surrender the 
stock and that the railroad company return the $90,000.00 worth of bonds, h'.nv- 



374 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

ing outstanding and in the hands of the railroad company $10,000.00 worth of 
city bonds. 

On the j-eas and na3'S being called the following aldermen voted yea : Bever, 
Denlinger, Holland and Slonaker, and in the negative, Alderman McClelland, 
and the resolution was declared adopted. 

Alderman McClelland then at once offered his resignation as alderman from 
the Third ward and his resigiiation was as promptly at'cepted and Wm. Rich- 
mond elected as his .successor. 

Nothing more appears in the records of the city council bearing on this ques- 
tion of railroad bonds until June 29, 1866, when Alderman Adams of the Third 
ward introduced a resolution that a committee of one consisting of Alderman 
Snouffer be appointed to confer and negotiate with Horace "Williams, agent of 
the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska railroad, for the surrender of the outstanding bonds, 
and he was authorized to release and exonerate the railroad company from per- 
forming certain acts they had previously agreed to do. One was the grading of 
Jefferson street and another was the grading of the North city park and the build- 
ing a fence of oak posts around said park, both of which they had failed to do., 
These agreements of the railroad company the city would relinquish, provided 
the railroad company would return the balance of the city bonds in their hands, 
amounting to $10,000.00. 

It is presumed that Alderman Snouffer failed to make these negotiations with 
Horace Williams as instructed by the city council, at least there is nothing in the 
records to show that this committee of one ever made any report on this subject 
to the city council. 

At the meeting of the city council held Jlay 15, 1868, another committee was 
appointed to investigate and try to induce the railroad company to relinquish 
and return these outstanding city bonds and it is fair to presume that the commit- 
tee accomplished sometlring in that direction as at a subsequent meeting held 
June 26. 1868, Alderman Leach moved that the city treasurer be authorized to 
receive the city bonds now in the possession of the Chicago & Northwestern rail- 
road and receipt for same. This is the last record to be found in the proceedings 
of the city council bearing on this subject of city bonds. 

Going back to the time the railroad was built into Cedar Rapids it will be 
remembered that little value was placed on the stock. People subscribed for the 
stock and paid their subscriptions as called for more to encourage the building 
of the road than for an investment. Nearly every citizen had some few shares 
of the stock. They had all done their share in getting the road here according 
to each one's means and financial ability, and held their stock in the road. It 
was then that men of means with confidence in the rapid gro^^•th and advancement 
of this great state of Iowa began in a private way gathering up this stock of the 
Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska R. R., buying up from the small holders their stock 
at prices from 25 to 35 cents on the dollar of the par value and in a few years the 
small holders had parted with their holdings and in 1865 there was little or no 
stock of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebra.ska R. R. to be had and in the latter part of 
that year the road was merged into the Chicago & Northwestern system. At what 
price per share the Chicago, Iowa & Nebra.ska went into the Northwestern is not 
positively known, but it is generally supposed that one share of the Chicago, 
Iowa & Nebraska R. R. was good for about three shares of the new consolidated 
Chicago & Northwestern. 

SOME OF THE EARLY BRICK HOUSES IN CEDAR RAPIDS 

Charles Weare used to say that there was a brick liuilding on the Y. M. C. A. 
comer which was torn down many years ago, and which was supposed to be one 
of the first brick buildings in Cedar Rapids; it was occupied by Ingham Wood as 



CEDAR RAPIDS 375 

a store building. Porter Earle erected one of the lirst, if not the first, brick build- 
ing at tlie comer of First avenue and Second street where the Union lilock is 
now standing, whicli was one of the most commodious buildinps of its kind in the 
city for riuuij- years. Tlie .Micluu-l Bryan family envted one of the first dwelling 
houses of brick about where X. E. Brown's home now stand.s in 184'.( or 1850, 
and for many years it wjus one of the best etiuipped houses in the city and the 
west. This house bad an opeu lire place in every room, and consisted of eight 
rooms. The hou.se was built according to the southern style of architecture. An- 
other member of the Br>-an family erected a stone and cement house about the 
same time at the corner of Third avenue and Second street, which building was 
later occupied by the family of William Greene. 

D. ^r. Mcintosh erected a one-stoiy brick building near the pri'sent library 
in 1850 or 1851. which building is still standint,'- About the sjiine time the father 
of James Snyder erected a brick dwelling which stood on South Third street near 
where the Vardy cottage is located. Greene's Hotel on First street wa-s a brick 
structure erected between 1854 and 1855; it had an eighty feet front and ran back 
toward the river about eighty feet. The picture of this building shows that it was 
a four-stor>- structure, although many claim that it was only a three-story build- 
ing. This buildng was erected by J. J. Snouffer ; for many years it was the largest 
and best equipi)ed hotel in this part of the west. 

Part of the residence of Dr. Skinner was erected by George Berg and was 
one of the most complete brick structures in this city. Elihu Baker also erected 
a brick residence on the property now occupied by Dr. II. W. Bender about the 
early '50s. Sampson C. Bever erected a brick building on the premises where 
the Rock Island offices now stand, being a two story structure similar to the 
Spangler residence which was erected later across the street. In this structure 
Mr. Bever installed the first hot air furnace used in Cedar Rapids, and a great 
many of the early settlers came to inspect the house, and especially to examine 
the hot air furnace which was a new thing in those days. 

J. S. Cook in the early days erected a brick structure on the comer of A avenne 
and Fifth street, which was one of the fine homes for many years in this city. 
S. A. Shattuck built in the early '50s a brick structure on Sixth avenue and Fifth 
street. John Newell, during the years 1855 and 1S56, erected a double brick 
structure at the corner of Fifth street and Seventh avenue. The old Seabury 
hou.se on Eighth avenue was erected prior to 1860 and for many years was a land- 
mark in that end of town. The Barthel house which stood where the Majestic 
Theatre now stands was one of the early brick veneer houses in the city and was 
occupied by many of the prominent families from time to time. 

R. C. Rock, one of the early merchants, erected a brick house in the early days 
on the premises where George Williams has since erected a magnificent mansion. 
Dr. Wilman, Dr. J. L. Enos and Dr. S. D. Carpenter erected brick houses in the 
early days which were landnuirks along Second avenue up toward Tenth street 
The Lawson Daniels brick residence was on First avenue between Second and 
Third streets adjoining the Thomas Building, and adjoining this was the dwelling 
of Dr. Thomas, a friend of J. J. SnoufTer and a native of Maryland : Dr. Thomas 
returned to his native state in the '50s. Adjoining these bri<'k dwellings was 
also another brick building erected by the old pioneer 11. G. Angle and occupied 
by him as a residence for many years. 

Another substantial brick dwelling was erected by John Graves on B avenue 
and Fourth street, being a two-stor>- brick building with an upper and lower 
porch. The old Gillette hon.se was on the east side of Fifth .street where William 
S. Bye now resides; it was known as the Gillette house. Mr. Gillette being the 
brother-in-law of the late W. D. Watmus. 

Another large and commodious brick dwelling house was a two-storj- structure 
erected on Fifth street between B and (' avenues and near what is known now as 



376 HISTORY OP LINN COUNTY 

Whittam Park. Adjoining this was the Koontz house, occupied by Dr. Koontz 
and his family for many years. The Tryon house was also a brick structure 
erected near the corner of Third avenue and Second street; ^Ir. Tiyon was a sur- 
veyor and well known in the early days. 

Nearly all the brick used in the early days was made by a ]\Ir. Geeslan who 
operated a brick yard near what is now Icnown as the "Lame Johnny" place. 
Brick was cheai), labor was low and the cost of erecting these dwellings in that day 
was much lower than later. It is said that Sam Stambaugh in the early days 
worked as a brick iiiiuson and walked home to Bertram every night, the wages 
paid being about $1.00 a day, which was considered high. It is also said that 
during the '50s Cedar Rapids had more commodious homes than any other 
town of its size in Iowa. It was made up largely of a bi-aiuy, wide-awake, enter- 
prising lot of men, such as N. B. Brown, H. G. Angle, the Greenes, Earles, Elys, 
Daniels, Macks, Weares, Bevers, and many othei-s who had drifted into the towai 
and who soon built up an enterprising little town, engaging in various ventures, 
not alwa.ys successful, but they had Cedar Rapids before the world so that they 
finally landed the railroad which henceforth made the town. It is said by the late 
Charles Weare that "when they first started a newspaper there were no settlers 
in the town, but they had to use a newspaper to boom the town with." 

SOME STRENUOUS DAYS IN THE OLDEN TIMES 
FROM THE CEDAR RAPIDS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, JUNE lO, 1906 

An ordinance creating a fire department was introduced in the coimcil in 
January, 1869, and it was passed February 12, 1860. This ordinance was lengthy. 
It stipulated what officers should be appointed, what their duties were, how many 
fire companies to each engine, how many men to each company and many other 
details. One of the i)rovisions of this first and original ordinance was that the 
fire chief should be appointed by the council. 

On March 12, 1861), the fire companj- which had already been organized but 
not officially recognized by the city eoimcil, presented a petition to the council, 
asking that P. C. Lusk be appointed as fire chief. At a subsequent meeting a 
vote was taken on the election of a fire chief with the following result : 

P. C. Lusk, who was the choice of the fire department, received four votes and 
J. J. Snouffer one vote. Lusk having received a majority of the votes cast was 
declared elected chief of the fire department. At the meeting held April 9, 1869, 
the chief of the fire department presented the names of the members of the first 
company which was styled "The Steam Fire Engine Co., No. 1." It was or- 
ganized under Ordinance No. 78. Mr. Lusk reported the names of sixty members, 
including officers, and asked the council to confirm them, which was done. 

The officers of this company were as follows : 

Foreman — Geo. A. Lincoln. 

Assistant Foreman — M. T. Bell. 

Secretarj'— E. W. S. Otto. 

Treasurer — W. B. Stewart. 

Hose Captain — D. A. Dingman. 

Assistant Hose Captain^N. H. Martin. 

Engineer — W. Berkley. 

Stoker— II. S. Gilmore. 

Some of the "high privates" in this first organized fire company of Cedar 
Rapids were as follows: Al Jacobs, Richard Cornish, C. E. Calder, Lyman Ayers, 
Geo. Rhodes, Ed. Ruttolph, John 11. Smith. H. S. Bever, H. E. Witwer, H. Hale. 
Geo. Ha-sse. John Bryan, Walter L. Clark. L. L. Cone, Chas. L. ^Morehead, A. S. 
Mershon, Ely E. Weare, James Snyder, John Shearer, Baxter McQuinn, W. J. 



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CEDAR RAPIDS 377 

Wood, Richard Moorheail, Don Harris. Lowoll Bressk-r. X. liudolpli, Ira Taft, and 
twenty-seven others. 

Early in April a Imok and ladder fompauy wii-s organized and on April 16, 
1S6!(, was coulinnt'ii by the t-ouucil a.s a part of the firi' departiiieiit of Cedar 
Rapids. The ofheei-s of the company were as follows: 

Foreman — S. D. Fleck. 

First Assistant — J. S. Dickinson. 

Secretary — Geo. A. Oanlt. 

Recorder and Treasurer — .1. G. Krel)s. 

Samnol A. Lilly. II. (". Morchoad, James Fowler. 1'. ('. Garrett, J. C. Adams, 
Siunuel Spaldin;;. J. A. Hart, .loseph Lilly, J. -M. Chanihers, T. Snook, J. J. Calder, 
G. yi. Howlett, C. D. I'ettihono and six others constituted the active membership 
of this or^'juiizatiou. 

The official life of Chief Engineer Lusk was very brief and was marked by 
continued strife and dissension among the members of the department. He 
became persona iioii grata to the council and charges were preferred against him. 
July 13, 186!). Alderman Hill introduced a resolutinn reciting that while the chief 
engineer could not be declared guilty of intentional fraud he was indiscrei't in 
many things and his influence for good in the de|)artnicnt had been so impaired 
that his resignation was demanded. This did the business, and on July 23 he 
resigned. W. B. Leach wa.s appointed chief engineer for the remainder of the 
term, and peace and good feeling prevailed in the department. 

In March, 1870, after the inauguration of the new coimcil of which W. B. 
Leach was mayor, a petition of the tire dejiartment was preseut^'d in which they 
asked the council to appoint Geo. A. Linculn a.s chief engineer of the department. 
Another petition wiis also presented, signed by many citizens, asking that W. D. 
Watrous be appointed chief engineer of the department. On the 25th of March. 
a ballot being ordered, Geo. A. Lincoln received three votes and W. D. Watrous 
three votes, whereupon the raaj'or voted for Lincoln and declared him elected to 
the position of chief engineer, and on the 26th day of March he was duly qualified 
and t<K>k the oath of office. 

Shortly after .Mr. Lincoln assumed the authority vested in the office of chief 
engineer of the tire department, an element of discord arose in the council and 
an effort was made to secure by legislation and diplomacy what they had failed 
to accomplish when the vote was taken in March. 

It was thought the original ordinance passed in January, 1860. was faulty and 
should be amended and the ordinance committee was directed to make siich amend- 
ment-s as were necessarj' or to prepare an entirely new ordinance. 

During the summer of 1870 the committee had prepared an ordinance which 
was prm'tically the same as the old one. The only radical change was in the 
manner of electing a chief engineer. The new ordinance placed the election 
of the officer with the electors after the year 1870 and a new section was added 
which read as follows: 

"No person shall be eligible to the office of chief engineer unless he be a re.si- 
dent of said city at least one year and shall have attained the age of twenty-five 
years. ' ' 

To understand the force of this last clau.=e in the ordinance it will be neces- 
sar>' to remark that at this time Mr. Lincoln was only twenty-three years old. 
This ordinance, the records «iy, was pa.s.>;ed July 20, 1870, b\it it was found 
necessary to amend it and it was not until ordinance No. 98 was pa.s.sed on Sep- 
tember 30, 1870, that the council felt safe in electini; a new chief engineer to take 
the place of the one so skilfully legislated out of office. On the 15th of October, 
1870, A. R. West became the chief engineer of the fire department by the vote of 
the council. After the election of Mr. Lin<'()ln durinsi the spring and summer of 
1S70 it was uncertAin whether the citv of Cedar Rapids had a fire departm. nt or 



378 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

not, and it was also a question as to the authority possessed by the chief. There- 
was much discord and bitterness among some of the members of the fire organ- 
izations. The city council was far from being hermonious and rarely acted in 
unison in legislating for the well being of the fire department. The citizens 
who had labored long and earnestly in this work of procuring fire apparatus felt 
that they had a right to demand that this bickering and personal contention be- 
tween the organized fire department and the duly elected city council should 
be ended, but tlie strife continued. Early in the administration of Mr. Lincoln 
as chief of the department a communication was presented to the city council in 
which the petitioners, after recounting their many grievances, made the claim that 
the election of Mr. Lincoln was unparliamentarj', unfair and contrary to the 
wishes of the department and to a great majority of the property holders, and 
that while the petitioners were willing to obey all ordinances of the city and the 
ruling of any legally appointed ofScer as chief of the fire department, they did 
not consider themselves lawfully boimd to give any heed or attention to the said 
Geo. A. Lincoln. That they as members of the fire department would pay no 
attention to the said unlawfully elected chief engineer nor to any order coming 
from him. This petition was signed by Sam Neidig, C. W. Eaton, G. ]\L Hewlett. 
Sam Lilly, Chas. Hubbard, J. C. Adams, Thos. Snook, and fifteen others. 

Some time later the chief engineer made a report to the city council as the 
ordinance directed he should do giving the necessary information in regard to 
the efficiency of the department and its probable needs for the future, but the 
council refused to accept it as the report of the chief engineer, making the broad 
claim that there was no fire department or a legall.y elected chief engineer and this 
was backed up by the opinion of the city attorney, ilr. Lincoln, not to be thwart- 
ed by the city council in refusing to listen to his report, was obliged to have it 
published in the city papers and some extracts are made here, showing the friendly 
feeling existing between him and some members of the city isouncil. He reported 
that the steam engine was in good shape excepting that the grate had burned out 
and the committee on the fire department had refused to get it repaired. The 
hose was poor and not in condition to stand the pressure necessary in case of a 
large fire. This was owing to the committee on fire refusing to have the tower 
on the city hall arranged so the hose could be hiuig up to dr>' after having been 
used. Many small bills for supplies used by the department, and which were 
necessary for the running of the steamer, were hung up and not allowed, and 
in speaking of the cistern which the city had built he reports that one of the 
aldermen had the keys of the same and refused to turn them over to him and as 
to the amount of water in same he could make no report. 

After the election of Mr. A. R. West to the position of chief engineer, the old 
original No. 1 Fire Engine Company, or a large proportion of its members, at 
one of its meetings passed the following resolution : 

"Whereas, The city council has seen proper to persecute and finally to de- 
clare us not an organized fire company, and 

"Whereas, We who compose the Fire Engine Company No. 1 have since or- 
ganization labored faithfully to make the department as eflScient as possible and 
have in all cases discharged our duties as firemen, therefore 

"Resolved, That we turn over to the city council all the fire apparatus in our 
possession. That we refuse to offer our services as firemen so long as any mem- 
ber of the city council who has been persistent in our persecution shall remain 
in said council. 

"Resolved, That we condemn the city council in thus deliberately and in- 
tentionally using their power to cripple and destroy the efficiency of the fire 
department. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 379 

"Resolved, That we preserve our company organization and that each and 
every one refuse to touch, use or handle any of the fire apparatus belonging to 
the city of Cedar Rapids." 

This old, original company, No. 1, was then a fire company to all intents and 
purposes, acting under the original organization, with mo.st of the original mem- 
bers belonsiing, but they had no apparatus, no engines, nothing to use in case 
of tire. Hut tiiis did not long remain. A subscription was started among the 
members of the company, and they with the aid of their friends and citizens 
soon had subscribed a sum sufficient to buy a substantial hand engine of a late 
pattern, together with 5,000 feet of new hose, a new hose cart, and also to put up 
a comfortable and neat engine house in which to hold their meetings and to 
shelter their engine anil the other necessary equipment. 

This engine wa-s purchased of Josiah Gates & Son, Lowell, Ma.ss., and cost the 
sum of $800, which amount wjis paid in ca.sh from the proceeds of the many sub- 
scriptions. It was called the E. S. Hill Independent Fire Company, in honor of 
E. S. Hill who was the patron saint in all their contentions with the city council, 
being an alderman from the First ward, and also one of the most liberal sub- 
scribers to the fund to procure the engine, he having led the subscription list 
with $200.00. 

The hose cart was procured from Quiney, 111., where it had been previously 
used by that city, and cost $300.00 all complete. The hose to the amount of 500 
feet cost the sum of $500.00. The material for the building of the engine house 
was obtained free from the local dealers and the construction was almost all done 
by the members of the company. 

After this company had procured their apparatus and wore domiciled in 
their new l)uilding they developed into a very aggressive company of fire fighters, 
and it was the boast of some of its members that they could get out to a fire, ex- 
tinguish the flames and be ready to return home before the steam engine company 
could get to the fire and be ready to work. 

A. R. West, who had been duly elected chief engineer of the fire depart- 
ment, together with John T. Hamilton, who was appointed assistant fire engineer, 
succeeded after much labor in bringing order out of the chaos that had so long 
existed in the affairs of the fire department. 

The steam engine, together with the hook and ladder equipment, was put 
into the hands of a newly organized company, most of the members of which 
had not been identified with any of the previous unpleii-santness between the 
council and the fire department. 

For the next five years (Jedar Rapids had two fire departments, the one be- 
longing to the city and under municipal control, and the other denominated 
the "Independent,"' owning their own equipment and subje<;t to no official orders 
from the city. 

This continued until the advent of the Cedar Rapids Water Co., who put in 
their system of watenvorks and established hydrants in all parts of the city. 

MRS. ROCK'S REMINISCENCES 

Mrs. R. C. Rock, one of the earliest of the pioneers, is still living in a serene 
and vigorous old age. She is a relative of Judge Greene, and came west to 
Dubuque in 1849 at his request to a.ssist him in getting out his first volume of 
Iowa Reports, which was printed in New York. She later came to Cedar Rapids 
with the judge and a.ssisteil materially in getting ready for the press and in proof 
reading the matter for the other volumes of his Rejxirt.s. The members of the 
supreme court would frc<|uently gathi^r in Cedar Hapids in chambers to pn^pare 
their opinions and to O. K. them for publication. Mrs. Rock did much of the 



380 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

law copying for these judges. Their decisions were turned over to her to record 
and to edit for publication. She says Judge Williams was flowerj- in his language 
and it became necessaiy to do a good deal of trimming of his decisions so as t)o 
condense them properly Ijefore publication, as attorneys were not so much inter- 
ested in the language of the court as they were in getting quickly at the meat of 
the decisions. Mrs. Roc-k did not hesitate to do a great amount of priming, with 
the result that Judge Greene received manj^ compliments over the improvements 
noted in his second volume as compared with the matter that appeared in the 
first publication. 

For a time Mi-s. Rock did editorial work on the Progressive Era, which was 
published from the Greene Bros, building. J. O. Stewart was then "devil" in 
the ofSce, and many a time brought to her the proofs of her contributions. The 
files of this early Linn county newspaper were burned in a fire which destroyed 
the publication office, so that now there are in existence but a few scattered issues. 
An early one was given a few years ago to the ]\Iasonie Librar>- by .Mrs. Rock who 
found it by accident among some of her effects. 

ilrs. Rock came west by boat from Buffalo to Milwaukee, and then by stage to 
Dubuque in 1849. The next year she removed to Cedar Rapids, coming here 
by stage over the Old State Road laid out from Iowa City to Dubuque by Engineer 
Barney of Washington, D. C. This road was a very crooked one. His son, W. 
J. Barney, on being twitted about its many windings replied that he believed his 
father was entirely sober when he staked out the route, and that its numerous 
windings were necessary to avoid the sloughs and swamps. 

Mrs. Rock well remembers some of the trips she made on the old stage from 
Dubuque to Cedar Rapids. It was customary to make 25 miles of the journey the 
first day. On one trip on arriving at the usual stopping place it was found 
impossible to obtain any hay for the weary horses. After a further drive of 
five miles a stop was made at a farm cabin, it being customary for the settlers 
at an.y place to provide entertainment for travellers. Here they found feed 
for the horses, but they were told there was no bread or tlour in the house, the 
man not having returned from the distant mill with his grist. There was some 
milk, and at last a little flour or meal was discovered. The two were mixed and 
put in a pan on the stove to cook. Unfortunately it was so badly bumed tliat it 
could not be eaten, and the travelers were compelled to go to bed supperless. 
During the night the man returned with his grist, and Mrs. Rock and party had 
a fairly good breakfast of saleratus biscuits and pork. 

One day while living in Cedar Rapids Mrs. Rock learned of the Spirit Lake 
massacre. She states the people here for a time had a genuine Indian scare, but 
nothing came of it. 

ilrs. Rock has distinct recollections of prairie fires here. She says they were 
beautiful but terrible to behold. They were especially prevalent every fall on 
the west side, and many a time has .she seen the bright flames cover the hills that 
are now incorporated in the city of Cedar Rapids. Judge Greene had early plant- 
ed a large orchard at Mound Farm, and once after it had borne fruit for a num- 
ber of years it was threatened with destruction from a prairie fire. All Cedar 
Rapids went out to help fight the flames. They saved the orchard at this time, 
but later the trees were killed by an unusually severe winter. 

The ladies of Cedar Rapids were very patriotic during the war years. They 
made all the imiforms for the boys of Col. T. Z. Cook's company, and supplied 
them with generous quantities of bandages and lint. It happened that after the 
severe engagement at Wilson's Creek those bandages were the only ones available 
on the field. Mrs. Rock's brother, then 18 years old, enlisted under Colonel 
Cook. After the hiuidred days for which the comiiany had entered the service 
he re-enlisted under Captain Stibbs, being wounded at Ft. Donelson. He then 
again entered the army under Captain Coulter, father of Ed. Coulter now living 



CEDAR RAPIDS 381 

in Cedar Rapids, and was later killed in the south. Captain Coulter's company 
was known as the •'Brindle Brigade," because it was made up of men from so 
many rcgriments that had disbanded. 

There were koiiip lawless people among the earliest settlers, says Mrs. Rock, 
and they oecasionally appropriated a horse or two, necessitjiting some corrective 
action by the community. On one occasion N. B. Brown borrowed a horse from 
a man whose discipline was decreed and went to Westport to secure tar for the 
purpose. At dusk the horse wjis returned to the bam. C. C. Cook seized the 
individual, assisted by Gainor and others. His legs were tied and he was taken 
to the side hill on B avenue where his clothes were removed and he was treated 
to a coat of tar and feathers. The following day he ai)peared aiiumg his fellows, 
and my relator states there was "not even a smell of tar about him," but the 
treatment proved effectual. 

One of the early settlers, Joe Leverich, had a fine library, was a great reader, 
a shrewd observer of human character, and his descendants are peojile of intelli- 
gence and high morality. Among tho.se who came later were Dr. .J. P. Kly and 
Dr. S. D. Carpenter in 1>^4!). Judge Greene in 1850. Tliey were men of education 
and attainment. Soon followed ML-^s Legare of Washington, I). ('., the Bryans, 
and Stoneys from Charleston, S. C, A. S. Belt, a lawyer, son of Commodore Belt, 
of Maryland, the Taylors from Virginia, and many others whose character and 
culture gave moral and mental tone to the growing community. In religious in- 
tercourse a broad and kindly feeling characterized all, and now in 1910, the same 
feeling prevails. The Daniels brothers erected a store, three stories, where the 
Masonic Temple now stands. In 1840 the Green Brothers erected a three-story 
brick building diagtmally across, the first floor being used for merchandizing, the 
second for Judgi' Greene's office and ware rooms. In one large romn in this build- 
ing Miss Calder, from New York, opened a school for girls in the fall of 1850. 
In a hall on the third floor, a Ma.sonic lodge was organized the same year. Miss 
Calder [Mrs. Rock] drew designs for the emblems and atended to making the 
aprons. 

The first district school house wjus built several years previous on the lot on 
Second avenue and Fifth street. The Cedar Rapids Business College is now 
located on this sit<?. This was used also for religious services on Sunday. Squire 
Abbe's daughter taught the first school, and Miss Louisa Roberts, daughter of 
the Congregational minister, the second. Squire Abbe was a member of the 
Territorial Legislature. 

Miss Calder's school prospered; and two other teachers were secured; one 
from Xew York for the piano, and another. Miss Parkhurst, to assist in the Eng- 
lish branches. She was a recent graduate from Miss Sill's seminary at Rockford, 
Illinois. Miss Calder herself continued with some of the English grades, also with 
French and Drawing. Pupils were attracted from neighl)oring towns, Marion, 
Vinton, Dubuque, Muscatine. Burlington, Fairfield, etc., but after a few years, 
failing health caused her to relinquish it to two young ladies from Ohio, andt 
within two years it ceased to exist. The following year Mi.ss Calder married R. 
C. Rtx'k, a hardware mercluint. Aliout the same date the Rev. \Villiston Jones, 
Presbyterian ministiT, oi)cned a school for boys in his private residence, and 
after a few months tiinied it over to Mr. Blakel(>y. when it was transferred to 
the "Little Muddy" <-liurch. Mr. Blakelcy's publie examination was the occa- 
sion of a lampoon by Dr. S. D. Carpenter, but he was a fine nnui and a good 
teacher. Geo. E. \V. Leonard was financial agent for this school. 

These eflForts resulted in Rev. Mr. Jones .securing from Daniel Coe, of Green 
count)-. New York, a gift of .$1.0(K).(K) with which was purchased eighty acres of 
land adjoining the town, a part of whiih is now m-cupied by Coe College and 
from which numerous lots were sold to aid in est«blishing this school. The first 
collegt' building was erected by subscription of the citizens. The only sur- 



382 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

viving incorporator of the institution is Dr. Seymour D. Carpenter, now residing 
in Chicago, aged about eighty-four. 

• The first religious services were Methodist, held in the district school house, 
and their circuit riders came every two weeks. They organized a Sunday school 
and insisted on a union school. The Presbyterians, New School, effected the 
first organization in 1847 in Mr. Vardy's shop, comer Third street and Sixth 
avenue. They, too, worshiped in the school house. Dr. Ely read the sermons, 
but their first minister, Mr. Roberts, of Marion, was a Congregationalist. He 
was succeeded by Rev. W. Jones, before mentioned. The first Episcopal clergy- 
man was Rev. James Keeler, who found an occasional opening for service in the 
school house, but soon came to using Miss Calder's school room for regular 
Sunday service. 

WHEN LAND WAS DIRT CHEAP IN CEDAR RAPIDS 

Real estate investments have always been successful and profitable in Cedar 
Rapids, and probably will always continue to be so. As shov\Ti in other articles, 
the land upon which Cedar Rapids is built was originally owned by five men, 
Judge Greene, Nicholas Brown, Addison Daniels, Wm. Sanford, and Alexander 
Ely. The division of the property was made in 1849 as is shown elsewhere, and 
it is from that time that most of the real estate transfers were made. All the 
gentlemen made fortunes from their speculations. 

How these five gentlemen came to be possessed of all the land in the city of 
Cedar Rapids would make an interesting story, especially if the prices they paid 
for each lot could be secured. They doubtless bought up the claims for almost 
nothing. We get some inkling of how the lots came into their possession by a 
curious old document which was deposited by Mr. C. G. Greene with the curator 
of the museum for the semi-centennial week. 

The property mentioned in it is the Grand Hotel comer, and this is a copy of it : 

"Received, Cedar Rapids, Sept. 7, 1848, of John L. Shearer, one yoke of oxen 
valued at thirty-five dollars, in full for Lot 9 in block No. 23 in the town of 
Cedar Rapids. 

"Geo. Greene." 

But it appears that Judge Greene did not think he had a very great bargain, 
for only seven months later, in May of the following year, the coimty records 
show that this same lot upon which the Grand Hotel now stands, and forty feet ad- 
ditional, 120x150 feet in all, was sold by Judge Greene back to John L. Shearer for 
$75. Up to 1865 it passed through several hands, with slightly increased value, 
when it was sold bv Henry McBride to Charles Weare for $1,100. Wearo sold 
immediately to S. B. Fleek for $1,500, and Fleek sold it in 1871 to E. M. Greene 
for $9,000." In 1877 Greene sold 80x140 feet to John T. Waterhouse for $10,000, 
and this property which originally brought $75, could not now be purchased, if 
unimproved, for less than $100,000. It is now held by a syndicate. 

William Stewart originally owned tlie jxround where the Cook & Laurance 
store used to be located. He traded an Indian pony for it in the early days, and 
held it until 1873, when he sold it for $7,500.. 

The property upon which the Calder buildings now stand, 60x140 feet, was 
also originally owned by Judge Greene. He sold it to Alexander Ely, who sold it 
to Harvev Higlev and Samuel Hook, and they in turn sold it, in 1850, to Frederick 
Miles for $82'. Miles held it until 1875, when he sold it for $1,500. Mr. Calder's 
friends told him at the time that he was throwing his money away, but now it 
doesn't look that way, as the land unimproved would sell for many times that sum. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 383 

"Where the Golden Eagle store is now located, 60x140 feet was sold in 1848 
by James M. Berry to Homer Bishop for $150. After passing through several 
hands the grround was purchased by P. MuUally and W. W. and M. A. lligley, 
who, in 1874, sold 60x140 feet of it to John T. "Waterhouse for $12,300. 

The pround where George A. Rlullin's store is located. 120x140 feet, was sold 
by Maiy A. Ely in 1853. to D. M. Mcintosh, for $350. II. G. An^'le bought it in 
1854 for $600. It was afterwards taken by creditors, and was held by them until 
1875, when it was sold to J. T. Waterhouse for $13,000. 

These are cases illustrative of the wonderful growth in the value of Cedar 
Rapids real estnte. It will of course some day find its level, and will very probably 
go above it, but it is quite safe to say that just now it is worth all that is paid for it. 

Every time a real estate transfer is made it is amusing to get an "old citizen" 
started, and have him bemoan his failure to invest a few dollars in a block or so 
twenty years ago, and hold on to it until the present time. If he had done so he 
would have been rich — but the trouble is he didn't do it. 

Thomas McGregor, who was working for a Mr. Robinson in the fifties, was 
offered lots where the Quaker Oats plant is now located at $10 a lot, but needed 
the money to keep his family on as he got only 75 cents per day. 

On arrival of the first steamer in Cedar Rapids lots were offered free to pas- 
sengers and crew in case they wanted to locate. Many lots were given away by 
real estate boomers in those days to increase the population of the city. Many of 
these lots were later lost because the owners thought so little of their value that 
they let them go to tax sales. 

Property on Second avenue between Second and Fourth streets was then only 
residence property, sand hills, and the like. Now all of this has become valuable 
business property and is held at not less than $1,000 a front foot, and still going 
higher. These lots were sold less than fifty ywirs ago at $25 a lot. 

Propertj' on Third avenue was even less valuable than property on Second 
avenue. "With the location of the station here with the hotels, bank buildings, 
etc., lots are now selling at fabulous prices. With the advance of prices rents 
have also advanced. I. C. Emery some twenty years ago had the same location 
which he has recently gone into, and paid at that time about one-third of the rent 
he pays today. Rents on the ground floor in the Kimball building, the Ely block. 
the Dows block, and in others of the old buildinss have gradually advanced in 
accordance with the advance in prices of the real estate holdings, and pretty 
much in the same ratio. 

Large office buildings have bwn erected from time to time, and it has been .said 
that the citj' would never demand such quarters. It has only been a little time 
till there has been a demand for more office and store buildings on a larger .scale 
and these have been filled withoiit any trouble. 

The pro])f'rty where is located the Denccke building wa.s once used for a livery 
stable, and the property on which is located the Mjiginis block was occupied as a 
dwelling house. These properties were traded ba<'k and forth for a song. The 
O'llaras finally snapped them up and began improvement and were tho\ight at the 
time to be crazy. Mr. Dcneeke then began purchasing and the .same was said of 
him. Wlien Mr. Majmus made his purcha.se of the block in 1804. during the 
depression, they said he would never get his money out of it. Today he has he«'n 
offered more than twice what he (laid and refuses to consider the offer. The 
comer where the Security bank is now located bad been sold and re-sold, and no 
one thought it worth anything, and when G. F. Van Vcchten purchased a few feet 
for a bank location many years ago the peoi)le of the town still thouirht it im- 
possible that this comer would be worth so much. The bank later had to pay a 
handsome price in order to get ground enough to make the improvements 
desired, and would have made money by having bought much earlier. The Taft 



384 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

building was purchased by the late Judge Hubbard some ten years ago at $55,000, 
and is now worth twice that sum. 

However old settlers say tliat for j-ears real estate in Cedar Rapids did not move 
and it was a drug on the market, and the rents were not in ratio with the values. 
For years town lots were peddled about the.,to«'n and traded for stocks of goods, 
for old horses, and other personal property, and it was always thought that the 
person who obtained the real estate got the poor end of the bargain. 

William Stone, Osgood Shepherd, Thomas Gainer, David King, H. G. Angle, 
and others of the early settlers did not know what a mine they possessed had they 
only hung on long enough. Stone settled on the Iowa river and later left for "Wis- 
consin, and Shepherd soon followed, all thinking he had made a good thing by 
selling his squatter rights to Bro\^^l and his friends. 

Dr. E. L. Mansfield arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1847, going overland to Cali- 
fornia in 1850. He traded the west one-half of the block between Third and 
Second avenues we.st, and between First and Second streets for a rifle, which was 
considered a high price in those days. On this lot Dr. ilansfield erected a large 
dwelling house and lived there for many years. He purchased the lot on which 
the Whelihan drug store now stands for $600, and the lot ad.ioiniug many years 
later for $10,000, at what was then considered a very high price. Thus the 
property of 140 feet fronting on Second stiTet and 120 feet fronting on Second 
avenue were purchased for less than $12,000. property which is now some of the 
most valuable in Cedar Rapids. Dr. IMansfield also held part of the property 
which was later purchased by the Cedar Rapids Savings Bank, and was held by 
him up to the time of his death. This had been purchased at an early day at 
low prices, when it was nothing but the cheapest Irind of renting property. 

A. C. Taylor, holder of tnuch valuable real estate in Cedar Rajjids. first owTied 
the property where the First Christian church now stands. He also purchased the 
property on First avenue near the Union block. Jlr. Taylor is the second oldest 
merchant in Cedar Rapids, and has not moved more than a block from the 
time he came here to locate in part of the postoffice on the alley where the ^Masonic 
Temple now stands. In speaking of rents, Mr. Taylor says that he has been sur- 
prised at the way rents have gone up year by year. 

Osgood Shepherd, of whom it is said that he .lumped Wilhert Stone's claim, 
held this claim till 1847, when he disposed of his squatter interest in what became 
Cedar Rapids to N. B. Brown, George Greene. H. W. Gray, A. L. Roach, and S. H. 
Trj'on for the sum of $3,000. 

FIRST DECORATION DAY CELEBRATION IN CEDAR RAPIDS 
FROM THE CEDAR RAPIDS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1906 

"When was the first Decoration Day celebration in Qedar Rapids ? That is a 
question which many might find it hard to answer, and the story of the prepar- 
ations for that day and of the day itself is so interesting that it is well worth a 
place here. There were comparatively few graves to decorate on that occasion. 
Not many of those who fought in the war had passed over the great divide in the 
year 1873, more than thirty years ago. Men whose heads are silvered and their 
"steps trembling were then" yoimg and they marched firmly to the eemeterj- to 
take part in the exercises on" that first Decoration Day. Since tliat time many of 
them have lieen laid beneath the sod and their comrades have done for them what 
they heli)ed to do for others. 

The day was made memorable by an eloquent and beautiful address by the late 
Judge Hubbard, a man who always loved the flag and the men who fought for it. 
Patriotism was one of the subjects that always lay nearest his heart. 





S. C. BEVER 



THOMAS GAINER 




K I). WALN 
An Early Settler 




REV. ELIAS SKINNER 



CEDAR RAPIDS 385 

The first meeting to arrange for the Decoration Day exercises was held Jlay 8, 
1873. The Cedar Kapids Daily lie})iiblican of the following morning has the 
following interesting account of the meeting: 

"The meeting called for the purpose of taking measures to suitably observe 
Decoration Day, took place at the City Hall last night. 

"It was called to order by A. D. Collier, Esq., upon whose motion J. II. B. 
Otto was elected president of the meeting. 

"On motion of lliel Hale, A. N. Neidig was chosen secretary. 

"On motion of Mr. Collier, a committee of five was appointed to recommend 
names to the meeting for the various committees to be ajjpointcd to make prep- 
arations for that day. 

"The following persons were selected as said committee: 

"A. D. Collier, Geo. A. Lincoln, D. A. Dingman, P. II. Francis, Hiel Hale. 

"After .some time spent in deliberation the committee reported the following 
names to be placed upon the several standing committees. They also reported 
names of jjcrsons as ofticers of the day, the whole report being adopted : 

"President of the day, Capt. Wm. B. Leach. 

"Chief marshal. Col. T. Z. Cook, with power to choose his own assistants. 

"Finance committee, J. F. Charles, Capt. Otto, George Wynn. 

"Committee on grounds, Ed. Thompson, Ed. Buttolph, J. I. Calder. 

"Flowers, L. M. Ayers, Geo. A. Lincoln, Geo. H. Rhodes, R. A. Austin, George 
Hesse. 

"Decorating graves. P. H. Francis, Hi^"! Hale, C. H. Stemeraan, Dr. Bliss, 
Jos. Stoddard, with privilege to choose five ladies to fill the committee. 

"Invitation, Capt. W. \V. Smith. S. Neidig, Dr. Skinner. 

"Speakers, A. D. Collier, D. A. Dingman, \V. B. Leach. 

"Printing, A. H. Neidig, Dr. F. S. McClelland, Dr. Cambum. 

"Music, C. Ferguson, Mr. Baxter and Dr. Bliss. 

"On general arrangements, W. B. Leach, J. F. Charles, Ed. Thompson, L. M. 
Ayers, P. H. Francis, W. W. Smith, A. D. Collier, A. H. Neidig, and C. Fergu- 
son. 

"On motion of Capt. Wm. B. Leach, Capt^iin Otto, as the last commander of 
the Grand Army of the Rt^pnblic, wjis instructed to call a meeting of the soldiers 
and sailors of this vicinity to have them meet and consult with regard to the part 
they shall take in the observance of the day. 

"On motion adjourned." 

The program of that first Decoration Day was as follows : 

"The following programme will l)e observed on Decoration Day: 

"President of the day — Col. W. B. Leach. 

"Chief Marshal — Col. T. Z. Cook. 

"Assistant Marshals — Capt. W. S. Bradley, Geo. W. Wynn, A. D. Collier. 

"Chaplain — Rev. A. B. Kindig. 

"Orators— Rev. Col. S. H. Henderson, Hon. Col. N. M. Hubbard. 

"At ten o'clock a. m. the procession will form on the corner of Iowa avenue 
and Commercial street in wa^jjons, and headed by the band, will proct>ed to the 
cemetery on the west side, where the graves will be decorated, and after which 
an oration will be delivered by Col. S. H. Henderson. 

"At two o'ckx'k the proees.sion will form on Iowa avenue, the right resting on 
Commercial street. 

"The following will be the order. 

"Music. 

"1. Grand Army of Republic. 

"2. Independent Fire Company. 



386 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"3. Bohemia Society. 

"4. Hook and Ladder Company. 

"5. Odd Fellows. 

"6. Fire Company Steamer. 

"7. Citizens on foot. 

"8. Carriages. 

"Line of march will be down Commercial street to Eagle, up Eagle to Mad- 
ison, dovvTi Madison to Greene street, thence to Oak Hill Cemetery, where the 
graves will be decorated, after which an oration will be delivered by Hon. Col. 
N. U. Hubbard. 

"All soldiere and citizens in the vicinity are cordially requested to be pres- 
ent, and assist in paying respect to our honored dead. 

"Soldiers will leave the number of their regiment at the Times office and they 
will be furnished with a badge to wear on the occasion." 

Following is the account of the exercises of that day with the text of the ad- 
dress delivered by Judge Hubbard. It is taken from the Daily Republican of 
May 31, 1873 : 

"Decoration Day has come and gone. It brought with it the noble thought 
to honor the heroic dead of our land, and left thousands of green graves strewn 
with choicest flowers of spring. This kindly and befitting token of love and honor 
was placed on every soldier's grave, to show how green and fresh in our hearts 
are the memories of their noble deeds. This day is one of mixed sorrow and 
pleasure — sad for the heavy sacrifices that had to be made, but happy to keep 
green the sacred memories of those who fell for their country's good. 

"The soldiers and sailors, who have died to save the nation's life, will never be 
forgotten so long as flowers are strewn upon the quiet graves beneath whose 
verdant mounds those gallant hearts lie stilled forever. 

"It is the sum of mortal glory' for posterity to gather around the tombs of 
fallen heroes, as around holy shrines, and pour out their libations in songs, prayers 
and in fitting words of praise on their noble lives and gallant deeds. 

"The day opened yesterday morning with a rain storm, which continued more 
or less until about ten o'clock. It looked discouraging indeed, and many hearts 
felt sad at the uninviting prospect. 

"At eleven o'clock a few persons gathered on the west side and pi'oceeded to the 
cemetery on that side of the river, and spent a short time in decorating the graves 
of a few soldiers that lie buried there. Rev. S. H. Henderson spoke a few moments 
on the importance of the occasion when the company dispersed and returned to 
their homes. 

"By noon the clouds had cleared away and the sun shone forth beautifully. 
At half past 2 o'clock Wa-shington street in the vicinity of the City Hall was 
crowded with a large number of people who were listening to the fine strains 
of music that the Ferguson band were discoursing. About three o'clock the 
procession began to move, and in pretty much the same order as has already been 
published in the Republican. Between seventy-five and a hundred carriages, 
buggies, and wagons were in the procession, preceded by many footmen ; also a 
number were on horseback. It was one of the most brilliant occasions of the kind 
that was ever witnessed in Cedar Rapids. 

"We are unable to go into the particulai-s, as we have not the space today to 
record them. 

"The number on the cemetery grounds has been estimated by many at two 
thousand people, and some have raised the estimate a thou.sand more. The 
following graves were decorated -. 



CEDAR KAPIDS 387 

"John Harrison, Heni-y N. Graves and Carter Berkley, 6th Iowa Cavalry, 
Co. K; Ilenrj' Fleek, 4()th Ind. Inft.; John Ilall, 31st Iowa; Amos Fergeson, 
J^and, 15lh Iowa Inft. ; James .Morchead, Sr., Co. I, 37th Iowa Inft. ; James More- 
head, Jr., Co. K, nth Iowa Inft.; Judson L. Houfjchton, Co. D, 12th Iowa Inft.; 
Parker Ayre.s, Co. D, 12th Iowa Inft.; Robert JIallahan, Co. A. 37th Iowa 
Inft.; James Ilammersley, 31st Vt. Int., J. R. C. ; IIenr>' Ber}?er, ^linn., Minn.; 
Geo. Wells, 141st Penn. V. Inft.; Edward W. Calder, Co. D, 12th Iowa Inft.; 
Lt. Joseph Hollan. 20t.h Inft.; Benj. Shaw, 20th Inft.; Donald Lothian. 31st 
Inft. West side — David Martin. 24th Inft. ; Ebenezer Martin, 12th Inft. ; John 
Dean, 2()th Inft.; Donaldson, — . After these interesting decoration eeremonies 
were over, the people jrathered around the stand that had been erected for the 
purpose, where tlie followinpr programme was carried out: 

"Music by the Band. 

"Music by the Glee Club, 'Praise of the Soldier.' 

"Prayer by Rev. A. B. Kendig. 

"Music, 'Star Spangled Banner,' bv the Glee Club. 

"Oration by Col. N. M. Hubbard. * 

"Music by the Band. 

"Music, 'America' Sung by the Glee Club and Audience. 

"Benediction by Rev. A. B. Kendig. 

"judge Hubbard's address 

"Judge Hubbard's address was so fine that we reproduce it entire. He spoke 
as follows: 

"My Countrymen, and Comrades of the Army of the Union : 

"Courage and bravery always challenge admiration, but when combined 
with exalted patriotism, they command the affection and gratitude of mankind. 

"The highest earthly care of man is to preserve as long as possible this life, 
and therefore the greatest human sacrifice is to give this life for one's country. 

"History is full of examples of this sacrifice in all time, and yet its frequency 
has never lessened the appreciation of it. 

"Patriotism — love of country, makes a great nation possible. Without it 
men would live isolated, or in mere tribes, and powerless. 

"The intellectual development of man shows him at once how weak and 
insignificant he is alone, and he seeks, by a combination of great numbers, to 
attain not only great power, but even immortality. W'e all know that our own 
lives are short, but the life of a nation may be so long, that we are apt to make 
delusion that it may be immortal, real. 

"The natural love and anxiety we have for our childi-en, who are to live after 
us, extend to and embrace the countrj' and the government in which they are 
to live. 

"Hence, we may be said to have two lives, an individual and a national one; 
and the latter commands the former in proportion to its increased span. We val- 
ue everything .somewhat in proportion to it.s power to last. 

"The study <uid contemplation of the national life, of which we are a part is 
always a matter of interest and solicitude. 

"On ever>' hand men are seemingly wholly engaged in devising and planning 
for their individiud prosperity and happiness, and silently but surely national 
prospcritj- and pn>atness follow these individual efforts. It is only when the 
nation stands in immediate [leril. that we become aware how much greater our 
anxiety is for it. than even for ourselves. 

"You whi> can recall tin- thrill of horror, of anxiety, and of grim determination 
that came over you when the news first came that Sumter was fired upon, and 
the Stars and Stripes were shot awa.v. ran tell, but I can not describe what bound- 
less .sacrifices the national life is capable of calling forth. 



388 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"How quick we found what a pride and what an interest we had in the mag- 
nitude, power, and prosperity of our country, and how firmly we were attached 
to its beneficent government. 

"The history of modern civilization in Europe has shown a constant struggle 
for many years for what they call the balance of power. 

"Five leading nations, speaking five different languages, and having different 
modes of thought and life, have watched and emulated each other, and each at 
times has had the reputation of being the most powerful. Fifty years ago France 
was foremost, today Prussia is the first power in Europe. These changes may be 
traced almost indefinitely. 

"In all the past, the national life, the national pride has grown with the 
growth of civilization. 

"It would be impossible that a nation should become great or powerful with- 
out a national self-love that wrought glowing pictures of its manifest destiny. 

"We find ourselves possessed of a country whose productive extent is far 
greater than all Europe, with its 300 million population, put together. 

"Beginning a little less than a hundred years ago with a population of tliree 
million, it has doubled every twenty-five years, if we shall reach forty-eight mil- 
lion in 1875, which scarcely admits of a doubt. The whole emigration added is 
less than six million. 

' ' At the same rate of increase for the next one hundred years our population 
will reach the enormous figures of seven hundred and sixty-eight millions. But 
suppose we shall touch the resistance, namely the lack of territory to supply so 
great a population with food; yet we may safely estimate reaching five hundred 
million, and the population equally distributed will then be about equal in 
density to the present population of Massachusetts. 

"I have neither time nor is it necessary to describe the variety of climate 
embracing the tropic and the temperate zones, nor the vastness, nor the fertility, 
nor the mineral and coal resources of our country. 

"Thus far nothing is problematical, but the people of future America are 
a study. 

"We know how sturdy and enduring the Anglo-Saxon is, how volatile yet 
tenacious is the Frenchman, how sober, solid and unwavering is the German, 
and how hardy and everlasting are the people who inhabit with the Polar bear. 
These are American now, but the Ethiopian and the Asiatic are to be added. The 
Star of Empire from the East and from the West have met upon the American 
continent. I believe the original Anglo-Saxon trunk will sustain all these grafts 
and that a nation will come of us by the cross of all civilized people that will be 
as superior to any of them, as the grafted fruit is superior to that of the seeding. 
Future America will be fitly symbolized by the Lion and the Polar Bear, sur- 
mounted by the American Eagle. 

"With one country, one language, one hope, one aspiration, bent sublimely 
upon achieving the highest intelligence, virtue, and culture that man can ideal, 
diffused through a population of five hiuidred million people, inhabiting one- 
quarter of the habitable eai'th with a republican government, is a spectacle 
that the world has never yet seen, but is to see through us and our children. 

"And but for these sacred graves, which we, and all the people throughout 
the land, have come today to crown with wreaths of flowers, no such hope, no 
such picture of the future of our country would be possible. 

"The future destin.v of the American absolutel.v demanded that the funda- 
mental idea of the Declaration of Independence should be made true, and that 
Libert.v (in fact, as in name) should be proclaimed throughout all the land to 
all the inliabitants thereof, and also, that the United States should be one and in- 
separable forever. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 389 

"Need 1 tell you how bravely and how well the army of the Union settled 
these questions? The men who lie silent beneath our feet and their comrades, 
have taught the South, and Great Britain, and the world, that the belt of country 
usually known as the North is the heart and jiower of the Kepublic. It is the 
strong arm that jiushes the car of civilization in the new world. It is the second 
Defender of the faith of our Forefathers. It has fought the good fight, and many 
of its bravest sons have gone to their reward. 

"The Republic is emancipated, impartial suflFrage and ecjuallty before the law 
established, and the work of regeneration is left for us and our j)astcrity. 

"During all the hmg struggle wliich literally ridged the country with graves 
like these, there was everywhere present, through the ranks of the grand array, 
an abiding faith in the future greatness of their co\intry, and in the final triumph. 
No soldier ever despaired of the Republic. 

"We come today to crown their valor by decorating their graves. What 
great eulogj- can we pronounce upon them? 

"These silent graves are more eloquent tlian the tongues of the living. Their 
deeds commemorate their fame and their names do live after them. 

"As we meet year after year to perform this ceremony of love and gratitude 
to our fallen comrades, new graves will be added and new obligations will rest 
upon us, until the last soldier of the Armj' of the Union is laid to rest. 

"When tliat day comes, let us trust that the national life and prosperity that 
has cost so much to maintain and defend, will be inestimably dear to our children, 
and that they may fully realize all the hopes and as])irations of our forefathers 
and the second Defenders of the faith. If we shall not be disappointed in this, 
the 30th day of May will be as sacred as the 4th of July. 

"But new trials and new perils await us. Poverty is the home of virtue, and 
riches the abode of vice. The Rep>iblic has passed the age of poverty, and is 
approaching the age of wealth — always the sure accumulation of generations. 
Rome withstood all her enemies from without and within, but the corruption fol- 
lowing in the train of her conquests overcame her. 

"If Heaven permits departed heroes still to know and watch over our beloved 
countrj-, what anxious prayers are being made now, lest the blessing which the 
hand of their forefathers laave left shall be wasted by the political dissension, 
frauds, corruptions, and wealth of coming generations! It is not fitting that I 
should name here and now what you all know so well and deplore. But may I not 
ask that we consecrate ourselves anew over these .sacred graves, and resolve that 
our remaining days shall add something to the purity, patriotism, and lustre 
of our country that has been vouchsafed to us through the blood of these mart^-ra 
of liberty. 

"But whatever of adversity or misfortune may be in store for us as a nation, 
the fault in no way rests upon these graves. Their services and their fame are 
secure. 

"And today also the graves of the Confederate dead are decorated and strewn 
with flowers. It is a deserved tribute to their valor and patriotism. They had 
been educated to believe that the South alone was the nation. We believed and 
knew that the nation was fnmi ocean to ocean and from the gulf to the lakes. But 
it was half slave and luilf free. 

"Today it is all free, and fifty years hence, if our hopes of the future of the 
Republic are realized, the South and North will rejoice in a common joy, that 
'Union and Lilicrty' have been so signally preserved to them and their posterity 
forever. 

"And while we wreath flowers for these graves, let us not forget to return 
thanks and give honor to the brave seamen who guarded our coasts, and let the 
'Feather of Waters go unvexed to the sea.' 



390 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"And the widow and orphan of the soldier and sailor, let them be remembered 
with blessings, with charity and with thanks. All they have left them for their 
great sacrifice is their coimtr)- and its gratitude. Let the.se be generous and 
unsparing. 

"And still again let us not forget the brave men and women who fed audi 
clothed all, who nursed and cared for the sick and wounded, who cheered and 
encouraged all with patriotic deeds and words. i\iid finally, and above all, let 
us thank God who gave vis the victorj\ whereby it has become possible that the 
Stars and Stripes float over an unbroken emancipated Republic, strong enough 
to maintain its existence against all foes, and yet ^^•ithout power to abridge the 
liberties of the humblest citizen." 

FIRST LOCAL LABOR UNION ORGANIZED IN THE CITY 

FROM CEDAR R.APIDS REPUBLICAN, JUNE, 1906 

It was in 1882 that an agitation was instituted in the city of New York, in 
which all the great labor organizations of the United States took part, and out of 
which grew the setting apart of Labor Day as a day of recognition of the cause 
of labor. It was not until 1887, however, that the germ thus planted gave fruit. 
On February 21, 1887, the state of Oregon passed a law setting aside the first 
Saturday in June for the observance of the cause of labor, and six years later 
the first Monday in September w-as chosen bj' the same state. That daj' has 
been observed ever since. The second state to legalize the holiday was New 
Jersey, and in May of the follomng year New York passed a similar law, Col- 
orado and Massachustts soon followed. In 1890 many of the other states passed 
acts recognizing the day. West Virginia and North Carolina were far behind 
the rest in this regard and did not legalize the day until 1899. 

The first great labor demonstration was held in New York city in 1882 and 
the parade which took place on that day is still remembered as an event of unus- 
ual magnitude. All the labor organizations of the city were in line and with their 
splendid floats, banners, etc., they made an imposing spectacle. 

The following year it was determined to repeat, if possible, the parade of 
1882, which had come to be termed "The Labor Day Parade." This time the 
date was changed to the first Monday in September and when in 1884 the dis- 
cussion of a repetition of the occasion came up, George B. Flo.yd offered a 
resolution in the Central Labor Union convention to the effect that the first 
Monday 'u September be declared Labor Day. The resolution was unanimously 
adopted and at the next session of the legislature a bill was introduced declaring 
Labor Day a legal holiday. There was considerable objection to the measure, 
however, and it was not until 1887 that a ma.iority in its favor could be rallied 
together. 

"With the day recognized by the legislature of New York and two other states 
a concerted eff^ort was made to secure action by the various labor organizations 
throughout the country, and in a few years the majority of the states had de- 
clared in its favor. 

Curiously enough the original Labor Day was just after the organization of 
the first local in this city, which the "old residents" say is Typographical Union 
No. 192. There may be some objection to this claim on the part of some of the 
present members of the typographical union. The charter of the Typographical 
Union local is now hanging in the K. P. hall, and it is dated December 26, 1881. 
Unless challenged the members of the Typographical Union will claim the honor 
of being the first organization of union labor in the city of Cedar Rapids. The 
charter bears the names of the following charter members: 

C. M. Hopkins, George S. Bradley. Harry Ingalls, J. D. Canan, L. C. Hay, 
L. B. Kramer, J. 11. Enos. 



CEDAR RAPIDS 391 

If the inomorj- of Sam Snouffer is t-orrect the local was organized among the 
employees of the h'( i)iiblicaii oflice anil it was a hx-al of newspaper printers only. 
Sam says that he was a job printer at the time and the Ixiys on the eases who 
organized the local didn't at tirst allow job printers to hold membership in their 
organizations. He says that the local was organized for a fight and it had it 
at frequent intervals during the early part of its historj-. Hut it grew and flour- 
ished and t«day the Typographical Union Local in Cedar Rapids is recognized 
as a consenative, yet aggressive body of men. with the courage to ask for it.s 
rights and the level headedness to get those rights without trouble. 

THE STORY OF A MOUNTAIN HOWITZER 

During the war when the boys were about to return home thej' sought to carry 
back mementoes of the long struggle. Company E of the Twelfth Iowa as a 
trophy of the war picked up a mountain howitzer which had been captured by the 
rebels and re-captured by the United States troops. Some members of Com- 
pany D of the Twelfth Iowa then, by some means kno\Mi only to the soldier boys, 
unlawfully laid claim to the cannon and Homer Morehead, one of the old Cedar 
Rapids boys, was able to get the cannon as far as Davenport, the city coimcil of 
Cedar Rapids providing means to get it to Cedar Rapids. 

The camion, a two hundred pounder, was used freely by ever}' organization 
for a number of years whenever any celebration took place. During the Grant 
campaign, in October of that year, the republicans had a blow-out and the cannon 
was used; in this celebration the cannon was slightly damaged and was hauled 
down to John Mehan's for repairs. While there some person, or persons, saw 
fit to take it in the night time and nothing was heard of it for nmny years. A 
note was tacked up to the wall where the cannon had been left for repairs to the 
effect that it would be returned and shot off when a democratic president was 
inaugurated. The soldier boys and many of the prominent citizens of Cedar 
Rapids were very much stirred up over this affair and publicly accused a num- 
ber of prominent Cedar Rapids democratic citizens of stealing the cannon, but 
no one, at least who was publicly accused, admitted having anything to do with it. 

The incident was nearly forgotten when Cleveland was elected, the first dem- 
ocratic president since the Civil war. One morning as Harry Brown was walking 
down the street John Mehan called to him to come over and see what he had 
found. There, sure enough, was the .same old mountain howitzer cleaned up and 
in first class repair, with a note tied to it that it was returned as jiureed and would 
be ready for action in duo time. This affair stirred up the republican camp once 
more and threats were made that this cannon would never be shot off to celebrate 
a democratic victory, and it never was. 

It now remains as a relic in the old postoflfice building, and many are the 
citizens of Linn county who have inspected this little cannon and have heard the 
storj' told by the old settlers. 

Not until a short time ago was it definitely known who removed the cannon 
from the Mehan shop in 1868. A Center Point person had been accused of 
having something to do with it; how true this is no one knows. It is thought that 
two young men in the employ of N. B. Brown, a stanch democrat, took the 
cannon and placed it in the stable owned by 0. P. Emery which stood on the 
ground where the Denecke building now stands. Mr. Emery no doubt knew of the 
whereabouts of the cannon, and when he removed up on Secfmd avenue a heavy 
box was moved by workmen supposed to contain tools. When Mr. Emery re- 
moved to the home of his son-in-law. John B. Ilinderson, on First avenue, the 
same heavy box was once more moved. Mrs. John B. Henderson noticed that her 
father, after the election of Cleveland, spent several days in the bam working 
steadily polishing up some iron, but she never inquired what he was doing or 



392 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

what he wanted to accomplish. A short time before his death 0. P. Emerj- ad- 
mitted to his daughter that while he did not remove the cannon he knew of its 
whereabouts and had some of his intimate friends restore it to the ]Mehan shop 
after Cleveland's election as it had been agreed in the letter or note left the 
night of the capture of the cannon when no one was around to watch this much 
prized treasure. 

A FORTUNATE TU^MBLE 

Linn county during the Ci\-il war had its .share of so-called "copperheads." 
as well as a goodly number of loyal sympathizers known as "fire eaters." Dur- 
ing this period of our country's history many unfortunate affairs occurred of 
which all parties ever afterwards were ashamed. In a state where the majority 
was strong in favor of the war measure it behooved those who were against this 
measure not to say too much. Frequently innocent people had to suffer for the 
acts of some one who talked openly and above board, not only against the pres- 
ident but against those who were instrumental in sending troops to the front. 
Democrats in the north were classed by the republicans as follows : Those who 
went to the front as loyal democrats, and those who stayed at home as "copper- 
heads," although they may have been otherwise law-abiding citizens. 

On the morning that news was received of the assassination of Lincoln Cedar 
Rapids became a town of turmoil and strife. Never in the history of the town 
had excitement run so high. The question of another war was discussed in 
saloons and on street corners, and during the entire day this strife was kept up. 
Towards evening a story got started that Bill Harper, a well-known anti-war 
democrat and a person who had frequently when intoxicated said some pretty 
mean things of the republicans in general, said "that he was glad that Lincoln 
got killed; that he should have been shot four years ago." The story spread like 
a western wild fire, and in less than an hour it was all over town. A crowd got 
together and it was not long till a self-appointed committee was organized for the 
sole purpose of hanging Bill Harper to a rafter or a sour apple tree at sight and 
without trial. A good sized rope was procured and the yelling crowd, headed by 
the late L N. Whittam and others, made for the store room kept by Brown & 
Harper, on what is now North First street. That Harper was a well-laiown and 
outspoken so-called "copperhead" was universally kno\vn and no question arose 
in the minds of the mob as to the truth or falsity of the charge. A few in thd 
party uttered remarks that there might be a mistake and that there ought to be 
some investigation to bear out the facts before the rope was applied, but the 
ma.iority ruled and these faint-hearted fellows were laughed to scorn. N. B. 
Brown, who had heard of the trouble and who was a partner of Harper, got into 
the store building, mounted a barrel and talked to the crowd, claiming that 
Harper could not have said the words with which he was cliarged, for he had not 
been in town for several days. Squire Knowles, a republican and a believer in 
fair pla.v, tried to persuade the mob to disperse, but his plea found little favor 
with a mob who insisted on a hanging. Then Bill Darr, a neighbor of Harper, 
also a republican, had to come to the front and tell what he knew about Harper. 
He said that Harper had been at home near Bertram and had been sick in bed 
for several days, and that he had been to his house and called on him the day 
before and he was certain that Harper knew nothing of what had taken place 
at the national capital. Darr was not treated any better than the others and 
was called "traitor" and all sorts of names because he wanted to save his neigh- 
bor's life if possible. 

Many of the crowd had been drinking heavily and insisted that something be 
done, and if they could not do any better they ought to fire the building and burn 
up the whole thing, while Brown insisted that most of the property was his 








^ »Rv>Jf 




A. BOWMAN 



E. M. CROW 




J. M. MAY 



CEDAR KAPIDS 393 

and that he would vouch for his partner's honor and reputation as far as that 
charge went. Whittjiiu by this time had gotten over the blood curdling period 
of his icadershi]) and was willing to tuni the job over to other hands, but no one 
seemed willing to come to his rescue, and there was no opportunity to put a mo- 
tion for an adjournment till the violence and the temper of the mob would some- 
what abate. Brown wanted to hold the mob as long as possible, having in the 
meantime sent mcssengei-s to notify Ilarjier of what might happen. lie realized 
tliat the infuriated mob at that stage of the game might hang an innocent man. 

Just at tliis point of the delicate proceedings, the crowd yelling like warlike 
Indians, and threiitening to hang any "copperhead" and to burn the building 
provided Harper was not brought into the room, a fourteen year old boy, long, 
lank and lean, who had also crowded into the building wanting to see what was 
going on, and to get more air, climbed on top of a hogshead which stood in one 
corner of the room. As he was gazing out over the crowd othei-s tried to get on to 
the same hogshead, pushing and pulling, when suddenly the end gave way and 
the boy fell into a ma.ss of lard and dye stuff up to his neck. The stench acted 
like morphine upon the infuriated mob. Someone called for the rope to pull 
the boy out and then a general laugh broke out and when the boy ran down 
through the crowd, dripping with lard and lye, nmking for the river, the panic 
became general and they all followed his movements and forgot all about Bill 
Harper or the words he was supposed to have uttered. 

The boy who thus saved the day and perhaps a life or two is no other than 
0. C. Carpenter, for many yeai-s one of the best known constables in Rapids towTi- 
ship. Carpenter still insists that he saved the day, although the ordeal he had to 
pass through was somewhat harsh. The lye burned his legs and spoiled a suit 
of clothes, and lie got a good thrashing at home, in the bargain. The Greek boy 
of old fell on his sword, but the modem Linn county boy fell into a soap barrel 
and by that side-stepping cast honors on himself and on membei-s of his family 
for all time to come. 

Bill Harper never uttered the words of which he was accused, and never knew 
that Lincoln had been as.«assinated until the evening of the day when the infur- 
iated mob was hunting him with a rope, wishing to put an end to his earthly 
existence. This shows how dangerous it is to stir up the mob spirit at any time. 
It always leads to disgraceful acts, from which a community suiters for a long 
time afterwards. 

HERE'S AN INTERESTING BIT OF ANCIENT HISTORY 

In running through the files of the early years of the Cedar Rlapids Daily 
Republican, the following interesting historical contribution, from the pen of 
the late Sampson C. Bever, wa.s found : 

"Editor Cedar Rapids Republican -. 

"I notice in the last 'Daily Repul)liean.' in referring to the City National 
Bank of this city, in connection with the death of the Hon. Oake.s Ames, the 
following: 

" 'The death of Mr. Ames recalls to mind the successful aid given R. C. 
Bever, Esq., in getting the charter of the City National Bank. The First 
National had already bci-n established and as Cedar Rapids had a population of 
only 2,000 people at the time the com|)troller of currency declined to estjiblish 
another bank here, but by the assistan'-c of Mr. Ames the charter wa.s finally 
obtained.' 

"The facts in the case are these: The ("ity National Bank received it.s cer- 
tificate of authority and had commenced successful business some time before 
the application for charter or certificate of the First National Bank was granted. 



394 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

"It is true an application for a City National Bank, with a capital of $50,000, 
was first made, and it was provided by the law of confess, creating National 
banks, that no charter for less than $100,000 should be granted, unless it should 
receive the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. j\Ir. Ames being in 
Washington at the time tliis application was made, and being a warm friend of 
mine, he kindly offered to give me his influence, and wrote a strong letter to Mr. 
Chase, then Secretary of the Treasury, urging him to sanction my application 
for $50,000, but before presenting this letter I was urged by ;\Ir. MeCullough, 
then compti-oller of the currency, that as there was no other national bank organ- 
ized in Cedar Rapids, and the population was about -1.000. I should by all means 
make my application for $100,000, to which I finally agi-eed. And as green- 
backs and government bonds were at my command, I had no further need for 
'successful aid' from anyone, being well knowTi to Mr. MeCullough, the comp- 
troller of the currency. But I none the less highly appreciated the kindness 
tendered me by my friend Mr. Ames. 

' ' I make this explanation, not so much on my own account, as tliat of others, 
who so well understand all the circumstances. 

"S. C. Bever." 

The Republican of that date. May 12, 1873, also printed the following remarks : 

"The statement that was made in the columns of the RepiMican on Saturday, 
concerning Oakes Ames and the City National Bank, is one of those unfoi'tunate 
kind of errors that often creep into a daily newspaper. The statement, as it 
appeared in print, was precisely as it was handed us by one of our prominent 
citizens, and we took it for granted, of course, that it was correct. Since Mr. 
Bever 's communication has been handed \is, we have made a personal examination 
into the matter, and have discovered an important fact which, it is due the City 
National Bank, .should be published. We find in the report of the comptroller 
of the currency, that the City National Bank stands upon record as number 483, 
and the First National Bank as 500, which goes to show that the former was 
organized some time before the latter. Of course neither bank has any interest 
in this matter further than to be placed before the public correctly, and we have 
it to regret that the statement appeared in our columns on Saturday in the form 
in which it did." 



CHAPTER XXXVII 
Beginnings of Churches and the Fraternities in Cedar Rapids 

The following accurate account of the beginnings of the churches and the 
fraternities iu the city of Cedar Rapids, written iiy the late James L. Enos in 
the early 'l)t)s, will have a douiile interest. It not only gives the storj- of the 
beginnings of the various institutions, but also comments upon their condition 
and prospects at the time the article was written. 

Methodist Episcopal — This society was orgauizetl in 1844, by Rev. I.saac 
Searles with nine members. As early as 1841 meetings were held by a Rev. 
Hodges, but no society was organized. In 1845 the Rev. Alexander Bushnell 
organized the first Methodist Sabbath school. Hodges, Searles and Bushnell 
were the first three Methodist ministers who preached in Cedar Rapids. Rev. 
Elias Skinner [still living at Waterloo] was the first pastor who permanently 
or wholly occupied his time with the church. During bis appointment here the 
church was in a prosperous condition. Since that time, from a variety of causes, 
the interest of the church has fallen off and its former popularity seems to have 
departed. The present number of members is 90; number attending the Sab- 
hath schools on both sides of the river, about 130. Rev. Mr. Miller is the present 
pastor. The church edifice was erected in 1854. 

First Presbyterian — This society was organized July 9, 1847, with seven 
members, of whom Mrs. Mary Ely is the only surviving member. Bonnet Rogers 
preached here and at Marion on alternate Salibaths for a time. Rev. Williston 
Jones was the first regular pastor. He continued his labors with this society 
until July, 1856, when he removed to Iowa Palls. Rev. L. F. Dudley was the 
second pastor and J. \V. Atherton followed in 1859. James Knox is the present 
pastor. I have not been able to Icam the present number of members attending 
the Sabbath school. The church edifice was erected in 1850 and was the first of 
the kind in the city. 

United Presbyterian (Seeeders) — This church is located on the west side of 
the river; it was organized in 1851 with eight members. Rev. J. B. Forsythe 
was the first pastor. Rev. H. Stiirgefin the .second, and Rev. J. L. Fulton the third 
and present pastor. The church now numbers fifty members and is in a flour- 
ishing condition. Sixty pupils attend the Sabbath school. The church edifice 
is a plain brick, erected in 18.59. 

Second Presbyterian (Old School) — This society was organized May 27, 
1855, with twentj' members. Rev. R. H. Morrow, a most exemplary and worthy 
man, was the pastor. By his admirable rpialities he won the regard of all with 
whom he came in contact. D. H. Mitchell was the second pastor. Following the 
expiration of his labors the pulpit was temporarily occupied by I. N. Reed, a 
thoroughly Old School divine. J. B. McBridge came next, and S. W. Miller is 
present pastor. The church now numbers some sixty members, and the Sabbath 
school has 80 to 120 enrolled. The church edifice is a neat but (inprefending 
structure on the east side of Adams street, between Market and Sugiir streets. 
It has a bell weighing 800 pounds and is furnished with a cottagi' organ. The 
pastor's salarj' is $1,000 a year, and the church is free from debt. 

Catholic — This church commenced holding meetings in Cedar Rjjpids in 
195.3. Rev. Fr. Hannah officiated here at monthly intervals until 1857, in which 
year the church was formally organized. Ma.ss was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Em- 



396 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

mous this same year in the liome of Alexander Hager. When first services were 
held, 1853, there were but three adherents to the faith in town. The church 
edifice, 24x50 feet, located at the south corner of Jackson and ]\Iarket streets, was 
erected in 1857-8. Rev. Emmons sers-ed three years and was succeeded by Rev. 
Fr. Gillespie, and he by Rev. Uhlenbrock. The fifth and present priest of this 
parish is Rev. Fr. Cannon. The congregation now has about 300 members, most 
of whom live in the surrounding country. Last year (1863) a mission was con- 
ducted by Rev. Father Weniger. 

Episcopal — The oi-ganization of this church took place in 1851, with but ten 
members. James Keeler was the first rector, then followed Revs. C. C. To^vnsend, 
Samuel Goodale, Samuel Starr, William Fulton and C. S. Percival, the present 
pastor. The corner stone of this church was laid by Bishop Kemper in 1851, and 
was consecrated in 1856. It now has about 80 members and the Sabbath school 
over 100 attendants. The church building is situated on the south side of Linn 
street, between Madison and Monroe streets. The exterior is not yet completed 
according to original designs. 

Baptist — The present church was organized by Rev. W. Eberhart, the first 
settled pastor, June 3, 1860, with a membership of twenty-eight. He continued 
in charge until November, 1861, resigning to take chaplaincy in the Twelfth 
Iowa Infantry Volunteers. Rev. N. F. Ravlin followed and remained with the 
church luitil April of this year (1864). The society is at present without a pas- 
tor. The congregation now numbers nearly 140 and the Sabbath school has about 
100 attendants. The society has no church edifice but has purchased a lot on 
Eagle street and will build soon. 

In addition to these there are scattering members of other religious denomi- 
nations, among which are Universalists, Christians, Lutherans, New Jerusalem 
adherents. Spiritualists, and perhaps some others are represented. None of the 
church edifices are of the first class. In fact each society is too feeble to erect 
a church creditable to the city. We might hope for a more perfect Christian 
union and with that would come the ability to sustain a sufficient number of 
churches, without the necessity of appealing for foreign aid to enable them to 
drag along an existence of doubtful value. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF LODGES 

Masonic — The ]\Iasonic lodge was institiited in November, 1850, by a warrant 
of dispensation from Grand Master McCord, and its charter was issued June 4, 
1851, being the twenty-fifth lodge of that fraternity organized in Iowa. George 
Greene was the first Worshipful Master ; John Vardy. Senior Warden ; Isaac Cook, 
Junior Warden; Thomas Downline, Treasurer; N. B. Brown, Secretary; Stephen 
Ij. Pollock. Senior Deacon ; J. H. Kelsey, Junior Deacon, and Samuel Hook, Tyler. 
Se\'~raour D. Carpenter was the first person made a Mason in this lodge. The 
following have been ^Masters to this date: James Keeler, Thomas Do'miing, John 
Vardy, Hiram Deem, S. L. Pollock, Jacob H. Cambum, and James L. Enoa. 
James C. Adams is the present Master. The lodge numbers about 75 members 
and has the reputation of being one of the best working bodies of IMasonry in the 
state. It was first organized as Cedar Rapids lodge, but has changed its name, 
being now known as Crescent lodge No. 25. 

Odd Fellows — A lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was insti- 
tuted December 28. 1850, about a month after the Masonic lodge was organized. 
It was known as Hope lodge No. 30. It continued its existence until some time 
during 1860, when it became defimct. The original charter members were George 
Greene, John F. Ely, Absalom Sines, Joseph Greene and John H. Kelsev. Those 
who have been honored with election to office of Noble Grand in this lodge are: 
George Greene, Absalom Sines, John P. Ely, W. W. Smith. Joseph Greene, F. A. 



CHURCHES AND B^RATERNITIES IN CEDAR RAPIDS 397 

Wilmans, L. II. Keyes, Homer Bishop, D. M. Mcintosh, Hiram Deem, Charles 
Weare, Samuel Milligan, George Livensbarger and C. Fordyce. At one time 
tlie lodge was in a flourishing condition, but through some unfortunate circum- 
stances it declined, and finally surrendered its charter. 

Various minor orders (Good Templars, Sons of Temperance, etc.) have had a 
temporary existence in the city from time to time, but none of these now have a 
local being. 

LATER SKETCH OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CHURCHES 

The following extracts are from an address on Church Day delivered by Rev. 
C. W. Maggart, D. D., during the semi-centennial celebration in Cedar Rapids, 
June, 1906 : 

Without doubt the first church organization was the St. Paul's Methodist 
Episcopal. The Rev. John Hodges preached here as early as 1S40, but it was 
not until 1S41 that the "class" was organized with twelve people, one of whom, 
Mrs. John Listebarger, i.s yet living and with us today. 

This church was organized in the log cabin of Mr. and Mrs. J. Listebarger on 
the west side of the river near the west end of the B avenue bridge. Service was 
later continued in the first building in town, in which lived Thomsis Sharp. At 
the time of the incorporation of Cedar Rapids this church had 148 members and 
their own little brick church, built in 1854, and located where the union station 
now stands. This church has had thirty-six pastors. Its present church was 
built in 1873 and is valued at $30,000.00. The number of members is 669. 

The second church organized was the First Presbyterian, on July 12, 1847, 
with nine members, with the Rev. Williston Jones as the first regular pastor. 

The first church building to be erected in the towTi was the "Little Muddy" 
church, which was on the postofHce site, 26x40 feet, and cost $1,200.00. It was 
dedicated Januarj' 12, 1851. 

Fifty years ago this church had sixty-seven members. Prior to the organiza- 
tion of this church a union Sunday school was held in the first frame building 
in the town, in the cabinet shop of John Vardy. This church has had five pastors, 
was built in 1869, and has property valued at $70,000. It has 477 members. 

The Grace Episcopal church was the third chyrch organized in the town. 
The organization took place in the school house in the summer of 1850. The 
first rector was the Rev. James Keeler. These services were later held in Tisdale's 
carriage factor}'. The upper floor was sometimes used for grain storage, and as 
it would drop through the cracks it would attract the attention of the porkers, 
which would frequently disturb the meetings with responses not found in the 
litany. At other times the upper story was inhabited and frequently the service 
would be carried on to the music of the nurse and cradle above. A great interest 
was t.ikrn in this church when Mr. S. C. Bever and family arrived from the east 
with a 750-pound bell. But a still greater interest was manifested when Judge 
Greene presented the church with a melodeon. In 1856 this church had thirtj'- 
six members. Today it has 505 members, has property valued at $100,000.00. 
and has been served by thirteen rectors. 

The fourth church organized was the United Presbyterian, on April 10, 1851. 
with eleven members; and the first pastor was the Rev. Hugh Sturgeon. This 
is the oldest church now in existence on the west side of the river. Fifty years 
ago they Ivad about fifty members. Today they have 225 members, property 
valued at $20,000.00 and have been ser\'e<l by six pastors. 

The fifth church was the Second Presbyterian, now Westminster, which was 
known as the old school Presbyterian church and was organize<l May 27, 1S55. 
with twenty members. Its first minister was the Rev. R. II. Mornnv. Their 
first building was located on the east side of Adams .street, Itetween Market and 



398 HISTORY OP LINN COUNTY 

Sugar, and the principal thing mentioned by former church historians was that 
they had a bell weighing 800 pounds and their music was led by a cottage organ. 
Fifty years ago they reported fifty members. They report today 500 members, 
with a property valued at $60,000.00, and have been served by twelve pastors. 
Their present church was built in 1905. 

It seems that the First U. B. church was organized in 1855 in the Dairy Dale 
district, which was probably then in the country. Rev. MeWilliams was the 
pastor. They had thirty-five members at the time the city was incorporated. 
This church, however, later, went down for some years and was afterwards re- 
organized. They have today 260 members, church property valued at $25,000.00 
and have been served by fifteen pastors. Their present church was erected in 1879. 

The Baptist and Congregational denominations had organizations on the west 
side prior to 1856 but both were too weak to live. 

During the first decade of the city's history two more churches were started, 
viz., the Roman Catholic and First Baptist. Fathers Hanna and Emmons of Iowa 
City held services for some time before organization and they only had three 
adherents. This shows pluck and faith and devotion to their own church. The 
church was organized in 1857 and Father Gillespie was the first regular pastor. 
This church has had five pastors. Their present church was built in 1870 and is 
valued at $40,000.00. They report 1,500 members. 

The First Baptist church was organized in Franklin hall, above Kilborn's 
gallery, on June 3, 1860, with twenty-seven members. Rev. A. G. Eberhart was 
the first pastor. They purchased a lot on Eagle street, where their first church 
was built. Their present church was built in 1894 and is valued at $50,000.00. 
They have had fifteen pastors and have now 365 members. 

The next decade four or five organizations came into existence. The first 
Lutheran services were held in the winter of 1855-56 and an organization was 
formally effected in the First Presbyterian church, on March 3, 1856, with about 
twenty-two members, under Rev. H. F. Ealy, minister, who walked from Iowa 
City to preach to the scattered Lutherans. Services were irregularly held by 
Revs. II. F. Ealy, Solomon Ritz, of Tipton, and J. G. Sehaffer, of Lisbon, luitil 
1868, when the organization was re-formed in the home of J. A. Hart, 211 Fifth 
avenue, with thirty members under the Rev. Cephas Baird as regular pastor. 

The first church was built on the lot now occupied by the Cedar Rapids Sav- 
ings bank, Third avenue and Third .street, but this congregation refused to per- 
manently locate there on such an expensive lot, which was then worth $300.00. 
This church has now 368 members and has been served by eight pastors. The 
present church was erected in 1881 and is valued at $20,000.00 A new church 
costing $35,000.00 is now in course of erection on the corner of Third avenue and 
Tenth street. It will be occupied early in 1911. 

The Universalist society was organized in 1869 and the first pastor was the 
Rev. W. C. Brooks. For nearly seven years their services were held in a hall. 
Their present church was built in 1875 and has been served by eight pastors. 
They have approximately 100 members and property valued at $16,000.00. 

The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1870, and 
the first pastor was the Rev. J. W. Lewis. They have had sixteen pastors and 
have now seventv-nine membei*s. Their church was built in 1874 and is valued 
at $5,000.00. 

In 1874 St. Wenceslaus church was organized and its first pastor was the Rev. 
Francis Chmelar. They began with a church family of sixtA'. They have now 
1,200 members, a church property erected in 1904 valued at $50,000.00, and have 
been served by five pastors. 

On July 1. 1874, the Second United Presbyterian church was organized with 
the Rev. W. J. McCallister as minister. It continued in existence for about 
twenty-four yeai-s and its property is being used today by Sunshine Mission. 



CHURCHES AND FRATERNITIES IN CEDAR RAPIDS 399 

The First Christiau church was organized August 1, 1875, with thirty-four 
charter members. Its first pastor was the Rev. N. A. McConnell. Since the 
organization there have heen eiglit pastors. The present church was built in 
1882 and its viiluc is placed at $15,000.00, although the original cost was $22,- 
000.00. They have a membership of 350. 

The Second United Brethren church was organized in January, 1876, under 
the Rev. Father Bookwalter, and did good work for a number of years, but has 
ceased to exist. 

The German Evangelical church was organized April 30, 1877. and its 
first pastor was the Rev. 0. C. Pfiind. They have had twelve pasters and have 
now sixty members. Their church was built in 1888 and they have property 
valued at $12,0(X).00. 

The Five Methodist church was organized in 1877 and they have had eighteen 
pastors. The first pastor was Rev. \V. C. Thompson. Their church was built 
in 1878, is valued at $4,000.00, and they have forty-seven members. 

The P^irst Congregational church was organized on May 13, 1879, and its first 
pastor was the Rev. A. T. Reed. They have had seven pastors and have now 
350 members. Their present church was built in 1889 and their property valua- 
tion is placed at $35,000.00. 

The Zion Evangelical church came into being February, 1880, through the 
work of Rev. Ilion. The Rev. J. E. Stauffacher was the first regular pastor. 
They have had nine pastors and have now 175 members. Their church was built 
in 1905 and is valued at $23,000.00. 

The German Lutheran church was organized August 24, 1884, with twenty 
charter members. Revs. Studt from Luzerne and Aron from Atkins. Iowa, 
preached for nearly one year on alternate Sundays when the Rev. J. Donckmann, 
its present pastor, became the first regtilar pastor. They have a membership of 
350 and a church property valued at $10,000.00. 

The Swedish Lutheran church was organized November 8, 1885. and its first 
pastor was the Rev. C. E. Cesander. They have had six pastors and have now 
fifty-four communicants. The present church was built in 1891 and they have 
property valued at $10,000.00. 

St. Patrick's church was organized April 18, 1886, with twety-eight members. 
The Rev. T. F. Richardson was the first pastor. This church has had but three 
pastors. Its present church was erected in 1892 and the value of their property 
is $50,000.00. They report at present 1,000 members. 

In the decade 1886-1896 the first church organization was that of Trinity 
Methodist Episcopal in 1887, with the Rev. Frank P. Shaffer as first pastor. The 
present church was built in 1890. and the value of all property held by this so- 
ciety is estimated at $20,000.00. They have 450 members and have been served by 
seven pastors. 

Sinclair Memorial Presbyterian church was a growth out of a Sunday school 
fostered by Mr. T. M. Sinclair. Its organization was efTected October 14, 1887, 
and its first pjistor was the Rev. Alfred K. Bates. They have had four pastors 
and now enroll 215 members. Their present church was built in 1902. the gift 
of Mrs. T. M. Sinclair, and is valued at $30,000.00. 

The Bohemian Pre-sbyterian church was organized in 1889. Its first and 
only pastor was and is the Rev. V. Illavaty. They have now 257 members. 
Their ehun-h was built in 1889 and is valued at $5,(K10.00. 

The Calvar>- Baptist church was organized on September 5, 1890. and its 
first past4ir was the Rev. E. F. Perry. It has been served by four pastors, and 
has a membershij) now of 165. The present church was erected in 1891 and is 
valued at $5,000.00. 

The John Hus Methodist E|)i.scopal church was organized .May 15. 1S92. and 
its first p;ustor was tin- Rev John Tauchen. The church has had thn-e pastors and 



400 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

has now seventy members. They have property v lued at $7,000.00 and their 
present church was built in 1897. 

The Bethany Congregation church came into being in 1893 and its first 
pastor was the Rev. E. M. Vittum. They now enroll 106 members and have had 
six pastors. Their present church is valued at $3,000.00. 

The Central Park Presbyterian church was organized May 4, 1893. Its first 
pastor was the Rev. R. A. Van der Las. They have now 205 members and have 
had three ministers. Their present church was built in 1904 and is valued at 
$20,000.00. 

The Danish Lutheran church was organized in 1893. They have forty -eight 
members, have had six pastors and have property valued at $4,000.00. 

The Danish Baptist church was organized April 1, 1895, and its first pastor 
was the Rev. A. Charlsen. They have had six pastors and have now 17 members. 
Their church was built in 1899 and is valued at $700.00. 

The first church organized in the last decade was the Second Christian church 
which grew out of a Bible school organized in 1901 and has a membership of 125 
and has been served by three pastors. They have property valued at $5,000.00. 

The Olivet Presbyterian church came into existence on May 15, 1904. Its 
first and only pastor is the Rev. C. P. Ensign. They have today 160 members, 
a church property erected in 1904, and valued at $8,000.00. 

The Dunker church has been in existence for several years, but was not 
formerly organized until 1905 under the present pastor, Dr. S. B. Miller. They 
have been served by five pastors, have a church property valued at $4,000.00 and 
have thirty members. 

The Reformed church came into formal existence March 29, 1906. The pas- 
tor is the Rev. Frank S. Bromer. Services were held for about a year before this 
organization by the Rev. Rohrbach. They have now twenty-nine members and 
are building a new church. The present value of their property is estimated 
to be $2,900.00. At the completion of this new church their propertv will be 
worth $6,300.00. 

Fifty years ago this town had about 1,500 people. Of these 386 were mem- 
bers of the six churches, one in four. Today, with a population of 30,000, the 
thirty-three churches report 10,286 members. With five and one-half times as 
many churches and five times as many ministers we have twenty-seven times as 
many members. 

The city has twenty times its former population, and the churches have 
twenty-seven times their former membership. 

The total value of the church property today, exclusive of schools and outside 
property, is above $750,000. 

All of this goes to show that the churches are very much alive and are among 
the most progressive institutions in the city. 

Two hundred and forty ministers have served these churches since the be- 
ginning of their history. 

RECAPITULATION 

Members Members 

The Catholics report t«day .... 3,700 Congregationalists 466 

Presbyterians * 1,814 United Brethren 260 

Methodists 1,815 United Presbyterian 225 

Lutherans 820 Universalist 100 

Baptists 547 Dunkers 30 

Episcopalians 505 Reformed 29 

Christians 475 

Total 10,286 




FATHER LOWRY 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 

Catholicism in Linn County 
BY REV. P. J. FLYNN 

All honor to those pioneer clerics and laity for the work they accomplished 
iiiidor trying and difficult circumstances. In the pioneer days no musical st)iu]d 
of silvery bell, from lofty steeple or tall minari't called them on the Sabl)ath 
morn, no swelling peal of organ or trained choir entertained or invited the wor- 
shipers in those early days, there were no Godly ministers to burj- the old and 
instruct the young, no books, or papers to read and to gather wisdom from their 
pages, to strengthen the weak and enlighten the dull. No need to be scandalized 
if in some instances, we find men grow weak under such trying circumstances. 
No wonder tliat pioneer conditions among miners and others, were such as to 
indicate little fear of God or little regard for men. Little do we know, in this age 
of ease and facility, of the difficulties and dangers, offered in those days to 
firiest and people. 

The effort of the writer of the following pjiges will be to chronicle facts, well 
established and authentic, relative to the church in Linn county, rather than 
to draw on inuigination or to give color to his as.scrti(>ns from a rhetorical view- 
point. It is the scope of historv to chronicle events relating to the past, for 
present and future use. There is no a.ssertion made in these pages that has not 
been investigated and truthfully established, in most cases by those who were 
eye and ear witnesses to the events referred to. 

In order to understand how difficult it is to obtain correct information about 
the early days in a new country it is both educational and interesting to engage 
in such research. One would not imagine that information concerning things 
and conditions of less than fifty years ago would be so difficult to obtain. Yet 
the fact remains, and this fact is in itself a strong argument in favor of works 
like the present. 

It is hardly credible that the early settlers could accomplish what they did 
under circumstances as they were in those days. What strength of character 
and determination of purpose these early settlers showed in the face of difficulty 
and danger is truly admirable. What noble ideals they had, and how earnestly 
and well they strove for their attainment. The present prosperity is due in no 
small degree to their untiring efforts in laying the foundation of present ad- 
vantages. Posterity may well hold their names in benediction, and the heart 
may with pride and reverence swell witli admiration for the hardy pioneer whose 
heritage is now enjojed. The present moral standards of the peoj)le, the nuraer- 
iius schools and churches and the general intelligence have been builded on the 
foundations laid by our jincestors and are monuments and tribjites to their char- 
acter, influence and enthusia.sm. When liinn county was but a mi.ssion district 
from Iowa City, nuttings were held whent>ver and wherever the priest found it 
convenient for the best results or for the convenience of tiie greatest number nf 
souls. Sometimes sers'iee was held in a log cabin, .sometimes in a district sr'hool 
house. When the missionary contemplated a visit his intention was announced 
through the district; the date and place of meeting were made known and thither 
the scattered settlers gathered on foot or on horseback or in wagons. They were 
happy in their inconvenience at being allowed even in such circumstances to 
make their peace with God and receive the consolations of religion. 



402 HISTORY OP LINN COUNTY 

Such were the conditions in Linn county half a centurj' since. How little 
we realize the advantages we enjoy in this day. 

Few and far between, however, were the visits of the shepherd to the scatterd 
hamlets of the early settlers. ^Missionary men went about, preaching and teach- 
ing and their lives were au example to all with whom they came in contact. Of 
such men and their life work, we have now to treat. 

The first record we have of the interests of Linn county in things Catholic was 
in 1853, when Father Emmons of Iowa City with apostolic spirit and Christ- 
like zeal journeyed through the trackless wastes to cat^r to the needs of the 
children of the faith. 

In those days, fifty-seven yeai-s ago, it is needless to say Cedar Rapids was 
not known as the Parlor City. Its pretensions were verj' modest. It consisted 
of only a few small residences with a few stores to supply the needs of the people. 

THE CHURCH IN CEDAR RAPIDS 

The chief business industries in those days were the lumber mills of Mr. J. J. 
Snouffer, Sr. The wild and trackless wastes were being gradually cleared, and 
the logs were being fitted for the formation of rough log cabins to shelter man 
and beast. Rough fords or bridges were thrown across the irregular and mean- 
dering streams which flowed in undisturbed tranquillity on their way towards 
the Father of Waters. It was nothing unusual frequently to find that the tempor- 
ary bridges were carried away over night and the log dweller found himself in 
the morning isolated and compelled patiently to wait the subsiding of the waters 
to furnish himself with the necessaries of life. 

In these days the missionary priest passed along giving his blessing to the 
work as he went, and in log cabins or improvised chapels fed the bread of life to 
the hungering sheep of the fold. 

The first record there is, and that in the memory of those who were present, 
of mass being offered in Cedar Rapids was in 1853, when Father Emmons of 
Iowa City, celebrated the holy sacrifice for the first time in the old Dubuque 
House in B avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. It is a regretable fact 
that the location has since been turned to uses less holy. During his visits 
afterwards from his home town to Cedar Rapids he always stayed, and officiated 
at the SnouiTer home on Second street, which in those days occupied the site on 
which now stands the Deuecke store. 

In those days the Catholic settlers came for miles around to Cedar Rapids, 
and assisted at di\'ine .service whenever the goodly priest foimd it possible to 
come among them. In wagons dra^^-n by oxen they wended their way from the 
western part of the county, from Fairfax, and along to the Benton county border 
line, and even beyond. Often their journey meant days of delay owing to im- 
passable ways and washed out bridges. All honor to those pioneer Catholics 
who so prized their religion and their faith. Xo wonder that seed sown under 
such trying circumstances brought forth fruit which abides. Among the early 
settlers who gave such proof of their worth and dared difficulties for their re- 
ligious opinions we find the names of IMurray. Keenan, Cook, Hayden, Lilly, 
Kehoe, Meehan, Flaherty, Cahill, Langan. Christopher, Villeen. Harrington, 
Hager, and others. 

Another pioneer of those days was Father Smith who occasionally visited the 
itinerary of Father Emmons when the latter was unable to do so. Fr. Harmon, 
also of Iowa City, came a few times into this territory and assisted in sowing 
the seed and nurturing it in its tender years. 

After Fr. Harmon's departure the dutv again rested upon the shoulders of 
Father Emmons until Father Gillespie was sent by Bishop Smith to form a new 
parish in Cedar Rapids, along in the early sixties. 



CATIIOLKISM IX I.IXN COUNTY 403 

The first cITiirt that was made to esUihlish a cliiircli in Cedar Rapids was when 
a pieee of property was s;-eiired on Sixtli avi nne and Sixth street, near the present 
residence of Dr. Skinner. Tliosc who were leaders in this laiida))l(> niiderlakin<r 
were J. J. SnoulVer, Sr., Alexander linger, and Francis Lilly. 01).jeetion was 
made to the seleetion of the site on Sixth avenue and Sixth street from more 
sources thiin one. and att^^ntion was next directed towards the present site on 
Third avenue and Seventh street. Thr()u>:h the etTorts of the above mentioned 
men three lots were .secured, and operations were liepnui and a little church con- 
structed larpe enouj?h for the needs of the time. The himher was obtained at 
SnoufTer's mill, the workmanship was contracted for hy Alex. Ilatrer, who was 
a carpenter, and the means were supplied by Mr. Lilly, Mr. Thos. Murray, An- 
drew Stark, John Meehan, Flaherty, and others. After Father Gillespie came 
Father Enlinbrook. who retiiined the charge only a sliort time. After his de- 
parture Fr. Shields came occasionally in missionary work. 

In 1863 Fr. Cannon assumed charpre and rcnuiined about two years. 

In the fall of 1867 Father P. V. McLoughlin came and remained about six 
months. 

One would naturally expect that by this time the congregation should have 
grown considerably, but the fact is that on the first Sunday of October, 1866, 
rosarj- Sunday, the conprregation consisted of between 20 and 30 souls and they 
were from the surrounding country as much as from Cedar Rapids. 

In 1870 Fr. Lowr>' (who was a convert to Catholicity) took charge of Cedar 
Rapids and from that date we have a continued resident priest and a regular 
histon,'. Soon after his arrival he set to work to build a church more in keeping 
with the needs of the place, since at this time many settlers had come from 
Illinois and things began to look more encouraging for our religion. 

Though his resources were limited, yet he had confidence that while the pur.ses 
of the people were light, their hearts and their hands were generous. Nothing 
daunted, he put his hand to the plow and the result was the front part of t\te 
present Immaculate Conception church. The foundation in rock work was the 
gift of Mrs. J. J. Snouffer, Sr., who was ever willing and generous to aid both 
the priest and the people, though she was not of the household of the faith. I 
venture to predict that her generosity and true christian charit.v is on record 
in the "Liber Seriptus" and that it will not go unrewarded by the Just Judge. 

To aid in the completion of this great work Fr. Lowry engaged both men and 
women, old and young. Among those who contributed matcriall.v in mone.v and 
cooperation in ever>' way we find the names of Mrs. J. J. Snouffer, Sr., .Mrs. F. 
Lilly, Mrs. James Cook, the O'llara family, Ilayden, Ilager, Kehoe, Harrington, 
O'Keefe, Foley, Cook, Mullally, Keenan, Murray, Meehan, Langan, Cahill, Fla- 
herty, Mi-Vann, Brceht, Peter Flynn, Killen. Thos. Murray. By the generous 
and combined efforts of these and many others the desired end was attained and 
Ood's house was a realit.v in Cedar Riipids. 

Having secured the church the next ambition of the goo<l and zealous Father 
Lowry was to secure a |)arish school, wherein the foundation woiild be laid and 
the seeds sown in future church members and pillars. The first and only parish 
school up to this time was a modest and unpretentious institution in which a young 
lady named Caroline Hager taught the children of the parish, who numbered 
about fifteen. 

In 1H74 inider the direction of Father Lowr>- the following men were chief 
among those who built the school: James McXamara, Jolin O'llara, Charles 
O'llara, Peter Flynn, Mr. Springer, Alexander lin^Mit. John aiul Charles Mur- 
ray, the Canniuis, Mullall.v, O'Briens, MeVann. McDonalds. 

The first Catholic eemeterj- was the present Bohemian Catholic cemetery 
purchased by John O'Hara, Peter Flynn, John Foley, John O'Keefe, and James 
Barrett. The first Catholic buried in this cemeterv was Mr. Flaherty, fatlier of 



404 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Pat. Flaherty of the west side. The second funeral held there was that of Mrs. 
Martin Sheehan, about the jear 1865. 

In 1878 or thereabouts Fr. Lowry secured through Mr. MuUally the ground 
for the present cemetery at Kenwood for a consideration of about $100.00. Then 
the old cemetery became the exclusive property of the Bohemian Catholics of 
Cedar Rapids. This transfer was effected through Father Francis Chemlar for 
a consideration of $900.00. Of this amount $300.00 were contributed by E. R. 
and W. H. O'Hara. In 1880 Fr. Lowry was transferred to Burlington and was 
succeeded by Father T. F. Gunn, of blessed memory. At this time many settlers 
had located aroimd Cedar Rapids and it began to be an important town. Soon 
the church had to be enlarged. In order to do so, the old parochial residence 
which was to the rear of the church edifice had to be removed and a new residence 
constructed. When this was accomplished, an addition was built to the church, 
giving it its present shape and dimensions. In the construction of this addition 
and all the incidental work that such changes entail as well as in the erection of a 
parochial house Father Gunn foimd plenty to do during his declining years in 
Cedar Rapids. He was not a man given to material building, as much as to the 
upbuilding of spiritual conditions in the hearts of his people. He was active and 
energetic even to his dying day. He was in sympathy with his charge and lived 
in the heart of his congregation, not above them. He was a thorough christian 
gentleman, and a man of honor. He believed in "being" and not "appearing," 
in doing and not in saying. He was the servant of his people, not their lord. 
He was a faithful follower of Him who forgot Himself in His care for others. 
No man ever held a warmer place in the hearts of the people of Cedar Rapida 
than Father Gunn. Even today his name is in benediction and his praises 
sung l\y non-Catholic and Catholic alike. 

The Rev. Thos. F. Gunn was bom at Strokestown, Roscommon coimty, Ireland, 
December 3, 1840. He studied the classics in Ireland and philosophy and theol- 
ogy at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee. He was ordained priest at Cape 
Girardeau, Mo., in 1867. His first appointment was to Cedar Falls, Iowa. At 
the time there was only one priest west of him, at Fort Dodge. "While stationed 
at Cedar Falls Father Gunn had under his charge thirteen stations in Blackhawk, 
Grundy, Butler, and Bremer counties. During these times a seventy-mile drive 
in a springless wagon was a common experience. 

In 1870 Father Gunn was transferred to Sioux City. His charge was St. 
Mary 's parish which then consisted of a modest frame structure on West Seventh 
street, across Perry creek. At that time the priest's house consisted of a one 
room structure. Father Gunn after a short time in Sioux City was transferred 
to Dubuque Cathedral, where he remained three and one-half years and went 
thence to Burlington, whei-e he remained till 1880, when he came to Cedar Rap- 
ids to succeed Father Lowry. 

At his advent to Cedar Rapids the condition was much different from what 
it today presents. It was but an outpost of the onward march of civilization 
and no one dreamt that the coming years would bring about so great a transform- 
ation as is today in evidence. Father Gunn was twentj'-six years in Cedar Rap- 
ids at the time of his death. Shortlj' before his death he delivered his last public 
address at the opening of the semi-centennial celebration held on Jiuie 10, 1906, 
in which he forcibly manifested his liberal views and referred to the transforma- 
tion wliieh had taken place within his memory in the city. 

Father Gunn died on June 24, 1906, and his funeral was one of the largest 
and most representative ever held in Cedar Rapids. His eulogj' was delivered 
by Dr. J. J. Fitzpatrick, of ]Marshalltown. and the speaker paid a becoming and 
merited tribute to the beloved and popular elergv'man. His remains lie buried 
in Kenwood cemetery and the citizens of Cedar Rapids have erected a .suitable 
monument to perpetuate his memory and hold his name in benediction. 




BOFIEMIAN ST. WENCESLAUS CHURCH, CEDAR RAPIDS 




ST.»VVENCESLAUS SCHOOL, CEDAR RAPIDS 



CATHOLICISM IN LINN COUNTY 405 

After the death of Father Gunn. Fatlicr Toomey became pastor of Immacu- 
late Conception church, which position he still occui)ies. Great hopes arc held 
out by the people of Cedar Ha|)ids congregation for the welfare of tiie church 
interests. A new juid commodious church is talked of and the hope entertained 
it will some day materialize. However as it is not l)ecominfr to praise the soldier 
while he is in the firing line, and as "I'raisc al'ter death" has been my motto I 
must leave to the pen of the future historian to clininii-lc the deeds and sing the 
praises of the present pastor of Iiiuuacidate Coiircption church. 

ST. WENXESLAUS P.ARISH 

St. Wenceslaus IJohemian Catholic parish of Cedar Kapids was established 
in 1874. Those through whose jiraycr and cooperation this new and independent 
Held of activity was called into existence were chiefly the following: Thomas 
Brouzek, Vaclav Charii)ar. .Vatcj Charipar, Thos. Chadima, J. Ha.jek. Fr. Ilorek, 
Joseph Kofron, Jos. Pivouka. Vit Kuba, Fr. Kofron. Ilynck Krejic. V. licssinger. 
Jos. Pivouka, V. lln-bcc, II. Siudelar, Jan Stolha, V. Stolba. .Jos. Sefranck, Jan 
Tomanek, Votja Zaruba, Ignace Sindelar, Mathew Kofron, Frank Biskop, Jan 
Vanous. Marie Tuba, and some others from tlie surrounding country districts. 

A lot was pui-chased. and in August, 1874, the foundation of the first Bohemian 
Catholic church in Cedar Rapids was begun. It was an eventful day for the 
Bohemian element in the city. In 187o money was borrowed and collections 
made by parishioners, and all resources were drawii on to obtain the necessary 
means of perfecting the work already begun. In 1878 the balance of the debt 
was paid by the united effort of a poor but earnest people. In fact the donors, 
considering their circumstances, were generous. 

In those days of ditriculty and want the parisli was in charge of Father 
Chemlar, who with all the zeal and earnestne.ss of an apostle attended to the 
varied duties and needs of the scattered and needy congregation. From his 
limited salary of ,$200.00 he gave to the more needy and often donated his time 
and tident without any consideration whatever. God be with tliose days of 
disinterested and apostolic labors. 

The old St. Wenceslaus church was a rock building 7.">x27 feet. It Wius 
without a tower. The bell Wius erected on an improvised structure in front of 
the church and its silver>' tones seemed to more effectively accomplish its mission 
and reach the hearts of the people, than our costly and superior ones of today 
as they ring out from their costly towers or tall minarets. 

To house the good father of the flock, a modest parochial residence was built 
by the peoi)le and in the bascuu'nt of the unpretentious home, parish meetings 
were held and school was taught for years. It was in the days of the good Father 
Chemlar also that the first Catholic ceraeterj- was secured by the people of St. 
Wenceslaus parish. 

In 1889 Father Francis Chemlar was |)romoted to the charge at Norway, and 
he was succeeded at St. Wenceslaus by Father John Broz. Fr. Broz remained 
about two years in Cedar Kapids and during liis short slay was by no means in- 
active. He added to the seating capacity of the church building and al.so built 
a tower in the church. 

Tlie next pastor was Father Kopeck>-. To his zealous and persistent labor is 
due the parish school which still remains, in which the youth of the parisli receive 
the rudiments of knowledge in things secular and religious from the good Sisters 
of Mercy. 

At this time the pastor's income was only $6;'>0.00, yet from this comparatively 
modest sum the good father found a modest means of doing material good for 
others and himself. He was a great school man and often spent hours in the 



406 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

school room, keeping at the class work. He was popular with the people and 
accomplished much good. 

Following Father Kopecky came Fr. Vi-ba who remained only a short time 
and was transferred to Proto\in. 

In 1900 the present incumbent, Rev. Florian Svrdlik, was installed pastor of 
St. Wenceslaus. Soon after his advent a new church was spoken of and being a 
man of action as much as of word, he began to feel the pulse of the parish on the 
matter. Seeing tlie interest and earnest manner in which the new pastor took 
hold the people Hocked to his aid and in a short time the work assumed practical 
shape. Fr. Svrdlik is not a man who builds a church on paper years before he 
has his brick and mortar on the ground. He builds first and then talks of a 
reality and not of a dream. With the unanimous aid of the people, he organized 
a fair, and from this realized about $-1,000.00. 

Through the other ordinary means of collections and donations this amount 
was increased in a short time to the extent of $10,000.00. To this fund his grace, 
Archbishop Keane, of Dubuque, contributed $500.00. 

At Christmas, 1903, the necessary property was secured, and on August 4, 
1904, the corner stone was laid, and on October 18, 1905, the new church was ded- 
icated with solemn and impressive ceremony. The occasion was one long to be 
remembered by the people of St. "Wenceslaus and Cedar Rapids in general. The 
new church is beautiful in design and faultless in execution. It was erected at 
a cost of about $40,000.00, a lasting monument to the zeal aud efficiency of the 
pastor and to the piety and generosity of the Bohemians of Cedar Rapids. 

The parochial school erected in Kather Kopecky 's time is his imperishable 
monument. It is in eliarge of the Sisters of ilercy. It is a beautiful building, 
plain and substantial in its style, spacious and well ventilated and well calculated 
to develop a sound mind in a healthy body. There are about 175 pupils at pres- 
ent attending the school and sowing the seed which will enable them to develop 
into .sturd.v men and women. 

ST. PATRICK'S, CEDAR R.APIDS 

St. Patrick's parish on the west side. Cedar Rapids, was organized April 18, 
1886. Its first resident pastor was Rev. T. F. Richardson, who was transferred 
from Fairfax. The first parish church w'as a modest frame structure on Second 
avenue and Seventh street west. While its seating capacity was limited yet it 
gave ample accommodation for the few parishioners, whose interests had hereto- 
fore been attended to, from the parent church on the east side, and occasionally 
from Fairfax. Father Richardson retained the charge till the time of his death, 
which occurred on Septeratier 12, 1888. After his demise the interests of the 
young and struggling parish were entrusted to Rev. M. J. Quirk, who was suc- 
ceeded bv the present inei;mbent. Rev. T. J. Sullivan who was appointed Novem- 
ber 17, 1*889. 

At this time many were locating on the west side who I'ctired from the countrj' 
aroimd to spend the evening of life in a well earned rest after enduring for 
years the trials and difficulties of pioneer conditions. Soon the little frame 
church became inadequate to the needs of the place, and Father Sullivan, with 
that solicitude which Ivas ever marked his life and labor, began to entertain the 
wish of a more suitable l)uilding. It did not take long for his efforts to be sup- 
ported by the hand and heart of his people, and on October 18, 1891, the corner 
stone of the present beautiful building was laid. The late Very Rev. Father 
Gunn officiated and the sermon on the occasion was delivered by the Rev. C. M. 
Carroll, D. D. 

The new church at First avenue and Fifth street west was dedicated on 
August 28, 1892, by Bishop Heunessy, of Dubuque. 



CATHOLICISM IX LINN COUNTY 407 

St. Patrick's ehuivh is one of the most sightly buildings in the city and when 
the frescoing which is now being done is completed it will be one of the neatest 
houses of worship in the city. 

The buildinjr when completed cost about .^lo.OOO.Otl. Father Sullivan took 
charge of the parish al)out November 17. 1881). The congregation is now large 
and representative. 

Having secured a beautiful chun-h Father Sullivan's next undert^iking was 
the building of a school in kcepiug with the needs of the parish. The corner 
stone of this beautiful and spacious building was laid on May 10, 1!)()2. by Dean 
Gunn. 

Tiie school is in cliiirtrc of the Sisters of Charity of tlic B. V. M.. wliosc mother 
house is at Mount Carmi-l. Duluupie. The Sisters of Charity as educators hold 
a similar place in the religious c(mgregation of women t« that occupied by the 
Jesuit.s among the male ordei*s. They are the leaders in their respective clas.ses. 
And the pupils turned out by both orders today are an honor to their alma mater. 

There are several sodalities and societies attached to St. Patrick's church and 
the parish is growing rapidly. 

THE CHURCH .AT PRAIRIEBURG 

It has been asserted that the lii-st mass celebrated in Linn county was at 
Prairieburg. This assertion I have sought to establish, but have failed, so I take 
it for what it is worth. As far as I can leani the first mass was said in a log 
house belonging to James Brislawn, but who the priest was I have not been able to 
establish. The first authentic record we have is when Rev. P. J. Maher, late of 
De Witt, then at Anamosii, officiated in the home of Bernard McLaughlin in 1872. 
The present brick church on the prairie at which a goodly number worship and 
which is in charge of Rev. Fr. I. J. Norris of Stone City, was erected by Fr. Maher 
in 1874. The Bohemian element who live in and around Prairieburg built a 
church a few years ago in the town. It is in charge of Father Ballou of Oxford 
Junction. 

THE FAIRFAX CHURCH 

The first Catholic church in Fairfax was built by Fr. John in 1875. This 
cradle of christiiinity in the wilds was located on the state road in Johnson 
county about six miles southeast of F'airfax. For the construction of this prime- 
val temple i>ak logs were hauled from the Henderson mills on the Iowa river be- 
low Robert's Ferry. From this same mill, which was the only one at that time 
in these parts, except the SnoutVer mills in Cedar Rapids, the early settlers hauled 
the lumber for their log cabins and for the shelter sheds for their limited live 
stock. This pioneer church in Fairfax district was afterwards removed to Wat- 
ford, later to the site of the present building. 

After Fr. John came Fr. Urbin (X'casitmally from Norway. Hi' returned 
to Bohemia and died there. 

Among the early settlers were John Flaherty, who came in 18.55; John B. 
Murray in 1858, Wm. McNamara. .\ndrew Stark, whose children now en.joy the 
fruits of his labors; the McDonalds. i)'Connells. Donohues. Winekes, Wickies. 
Brecht-s. Springer. Barretts, O'llara, P. Flynn, Foleys, Cook, Ilaydens, Ilager, 
Cahill, Langan. Killeen, Kehoe. Meehan, Harriii<rtoii, Lillv, .Murrav, Cannon, 
O'Brien. 

Before this time however then> were some s<'att4'red settlers in and around 
the site of the present town. Among the early settlers were Thos. Murray, fath- 
er of J. K. Murray and Charles Murray of this city, John B. Murray who came 
from Illinois in '5G or '58. and located in Benton county, John Flaherty, father of 
P. Flaherty, who came from Illinois in '55 by way of Iowa City. In those days 



408 HISTORY OF LIXX COUNT! 

there were very few settlers and the country around was densely wooded where 
the wild deer and wolf held undisputed sway. The nearest and only Catholic 
church was in Iowa City and there the pioneers journeyed periodically to make 
their peace with God. There were no roads, and travelers wei-e compelled to 
follow the beaten path through thicket and forest. In these .iourneyings danger 
and difiSculty were ever present. The hardships endured for the sake of re- 
ligion remind one of the experiences of Saul of Tarsus. Whenever Father Em- 
mons came from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids, his intention was declared some 
days before and a herald brought the glad news to the settlers who came in from 
their desert haunts and swelled the congregation at Cedar Rapids. These were 
literally the days when these faithful pioneers, poor in the world's goods but 
rich in faith, hungered and thirsted after justice. 

When the ehiu'ch was built at Cedar Rapids the faithful at Fairfax were 
looked after for some years till their number increased. Fr. Urbin, who was 
stationed at Norwaj-, later on also aided in keeping the lamp of faith burning 
brightly. This was along al)Out 1868. Later on Fr. John Chemlar took care of 
their interests till in 1875 Father O'Farrell came to abide with the faithful of 
Fairfax and was their first resident priest. 

The field of operation in Fairfax was too limited for the zeal of Father O'Far- 
rell and he remained only a short time. He was succeeded by Father IMcCaffrey 
who was energetic in his laboi-s, but because limited in his resources was not 
able to accomplish much, and time hung heavily on his hands. He left soon after 
After this time, however, things began to look more encouraging and we find 
some such sturdy men as John Flaherty, Thomas Murray. John ^Murray, Pat 
Harrington, Wm. Harrington, Maurice Cahill, Andrew Garrett, John Sears, 
Henry Wickie, putting their shoulders to the wheel and from their limited re- 
sources, giving material aid in the upbuilding of conditions. The next resident 
priest was Fatlier Quinn who came from the east. He was a man of action. He 
set to work and organized the parish in practical shape and doubtless had he 
been spared Fairfax would be today one of the leading parishes in Linn coimty. 
He died after two years from pneumonia contracted while attending to his flock. 

After the death of Father Quinn, charge of affairs was assumed by Father 
Kelly, who was succeeded by Father Richardson, who enlarged the church edifice, 
which still remains a monument of early days and pioneer conditions, but hardly 
in keeping with these days of opulence and ease. After about four years pas- 
torate in Fairfax, during which time he attended Cedar Rapids west side people, 
he was transferred to the west side of Cedar Rapids and built the first church 
in that place. 

This church was located at Second avenue and Fifth street west, and was a 
frame structure 60x32 feet. It was at this time, April 18, 1886, that St. Patrick's 
parish was first organized and Father Richardson was its first pastor and he 
retained the charge until his death in September. 1888. Father John Brogan 
assumed the cliarge of Fairfax parish in April, 1886, and remained seven years, 
during which time he labored earnestly for the good of religion and was much 
beloved by the people. During his pastorate he built a beautiful, well equipped 
modern residence, which still remains and is occupied by the present incumbent. 
After Father Brogan 's removal Father John Hogan assumed the charge of the 
Fairfax parish and during his stay of five years he labored zealously to pay off 
the indebtedness on the church property and has improved things generally. He 
aftenvards exchanged Fairfax for his present charge Van Home, and Father 
Thomas Reynolds of Van Home came to Fairfax where he remained till his 
death. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. P. Reynolds, who has 
done much to better conditions and who hopes one day to build a church in keep- 
ing with the present enviable status of this wealthy community'. 




THE LATE VERY REVEREND DEAN GUNN 



CATHOLR'ISM IX LINN COUNTY 409 

THE CHURCH AT WALKER 

For many years, the faitliful of this town and the surroundinp districts were 
attended from Independeni'o. In 1887 Very Rev. Fr. O'Dowd, of Independence, 
erected a eliurch at Walker, and for four years attended to tlie same from his 
home in Indepemience. In 18111 a new [larish was established hy Hisliop Ilen- 
nessy, and Rev. James Ryan, now of C'almar. la., was apiiointed first resident 
pastor. Having a ehnreii already swured the new pastor directed his zeal to- 
wards the erection of the present parochial residence. While the parish was not 
numerically extensive, yet what it lacked in numbers was supplied in interest and 
zeal, and the new pastor in his apostolic spirit and untlatrtrintr zeal soon had the 
good will of his confrrcfratioii entirely at his disposal and with their generous co- 
operation in hand and heart and a.s far as cirrinnstances permitted in currency, 
he erected a tine home for the use of the ])ricst and had it paid for in a short time. 
During his stay of three years in the parish he also improved and completed the 
conditions in church and church property which required attention. Fr. Ryan 
is the best type of a truly apostolic priest, the zeal of God's liouse and the hap- 
piness of God s people, being the single purjiose which at all times animates and 
actuates his life and action. 

After three yeai"s. Archbishop ITennessy. recognizing his earnestness and 
efficiency, a.ssigned him to a new and more varied field of operation and he was 
succeeded at Walker by Rev. John McNamara, now of Key West, Dubu<iue. Fr. 
McXamara's stay in Walker was of only short duration, about three months, 
when in obedience to the wish of authority he went to Key West. After his de- 
parture the present pastor. Rev. W^m. Leen, a.ssumed jurisdiction and his stay 
in Walker for sixteen years is the explanation of the present flourishing condi- 
tion of the parish. Vast improvements have been effected, in the church and 
church property, and today Walker takes its place not only among the Catholic 
churches in Linn county but among the churches in any county in the state. 

The pastor is a most zealous and priestly man, an erudite scholar and a pro- 
found and persistent student. lie is not selfish, and generously gives of the 
fruits of his research through the columns of ]iamphlet and press. Fr. Leen also 
occasionally lets his thoughts run along metrical lines. 

Besides Walker, Fr. Jjeen al.so extends his zeal and paternal care to Rowley 
and another mission station which is not in Linn county. But while frequently 
engaged in historical research, and contributing to current literature, he finds 
abundant time and opportunity to feed the sheep and the lambs over which he 
is shepherd and does his duty so well that he is most popular not only with his 
charge but with the community in general. 

THE MARIO.N CHIRCH 

One of the prettiest churches in Linn county today is St. Joseph's at Marion. 
It was built by the present pastor. Father P. M. Loughvane. Like most other 
places in Linn county the early settlers in Marion had to endure hardships for 
their religion. The settlers were few and far between and the only consolation 
they had from a religious standpoint was the occasional visit of a missionary' 
priest from some outside charge. 

In the yeai-s 1855 and 1856 a good priest named Father Smith came occasion- 
ally from Iowa City to minister to their needs and preach them a word of en- 
couragement. In those days Father Emmons also came from Iowa City and 
contributed to keep the lamp of faith burning. Father Laurent, of Muscatine, 
also came to Marion occasionally and did missionarj- work among the pioneers. 

A a rule the faithful .ioumeyed to Iowa City whenever the weather permitted. 
In thesi- days there were no automobiles nor telephone ser\'iee. and it was not at 



410 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

all imc'ominon for the travelers to be weather bound on their way to or from 
the scene of their religioiis obsen'auee. Sometimes they had to sleep all night 
in the ^vagou in the midst of the woods when the swollen streams prevented their 
going any farther. It looks like something one may read about, but there are 
those living today who recall it as a fact. Waiting till the river flowed by, or 
at least till its current became less rapid, or till the hidden ford appeared — such 
were the trials of pioneer days in Linn count}-, and such the tests the faithful were 
subjected to. 

After 1870, Clarion was attended bj^ Father Lbwry, of Cedar Rapids. After 
Father Lowry's time the faithful of Clarion were attended by Father Richardson, 
of Fairfax, and after his transfer to St. Patrick's he continued to minister to 
their needs. His successor. Father ]\IeQuirk, continued to assist in tiringing the 
consolations of religion to the early settlers. In later days Father Jolm Brogan. 
of Fairfax, ministered to their needs whenever time and opportunity permitted. 

Father Timothy Sullivan, after his appointment to St. Patrick's, also min- 
istered to their needs and to this day has many friends who are mindful of his 
kindness in the days of want. 

The first resident priest in Marion was Father Laffin, who came in 1890. 
At this time and indeed previous to this the chief settlers in the Marion district 
were the Senekir family, the Reillj's, the Davises, Colburts, Zimmermans, and 
Zackeries, and these were the first who took hold and established the first church. 

The church, by reason of the fewness of its members, was a difficult problem 
to maintain. It was supported chiefly by the active and energetic assistance of 
the people in holding sociables and picnics and such other wa.vs and means as 
were worthy of the noble cause. 

When the building was completed there was an indebtedness of $1,800, and 
nothing to pay this amoimt from. The sale of the property was threatened by 
those who held the lien on the church. But the zealous and hard-working mem- 
bers of the congregation set to work, and in two yeai's this amoimt was paid off. 

After Father Laffin 's departure the charge was taken bj' Rev, J. Hartigan, 
now at Strawberry Point. For eight years this zealous and interested young 
priest labored early and late for the welfare and comfort of his flock. During 
his time the present parochial residence was erected at a cost of $3,000. It is a 
modest, unpretentious building, but fitted up with all the modern systems of 
hygienic and he.althful appliances. Not content with being comfortably housed 
himself, Father Hartigan decided to secure also a becoming habitation for his 
Lord and Master. He decided that a new church was now a matter of necessitj' 
in ]\Iarion, and gradually he got the members of the congregation to his way of 
thinking. He held fairs and sociables to obtain the necessary funds to make his 
dream a reality, and at his transfer from Marion he left in the church treasury 
more than $2,000 as a nucleus for the new church building. The completion of 
the work was, however, reserved for his no less interested and zealous successor. 

Writing of the conditions in Marion at his appointment, Fr. Hartigan says : 

"I got my appointment to the charge in the winter of 1896, about December 1st, 
and I shall never forget my feelings on arriving there. I found the parish in 
excellent condition to try a man's gi-it and patience. There were about thirty- 
five families, more or less actively engaged in parish work. There was a debt of 
upwards of $3,000, with no home except a log cabin, and an old church that had 
stood the test of the winters' blast for well nigh forty years. I heard murmurs 
on all sides, some thinking that all their property would be lost. I had many 
expressions of sympathy. I told the people in very few words that I was not look- 
ing for sympathy (although I needed it), that I was sent there to work, that 
works, not words, were of more avail in those circumstances. I tried to arouse 
their fainting spirits and told them to go and put their shoulder to the wheel, 



CATHOLICISM IN LINN COUNTY 411 

which they did with a willingness and energj' that was beyond luy most ardent 
aspirations, lu about two years we had the parisli elear of del)t. Then it was 
neeessary to build a home to su|>pUtnt the poor h)g cabin, one of tlie old landinarks 
that did its work for well nigh half a century. To show the dilapidated 
condition of that abode I may say that I was frequently compelled to move my 
bed around to escape the rainfall. But thanks to the gi-nerosity of the people 
and their willingness to work and to give, the home was built in almost as short a 
time as it would t'lke to tell it. It was a gigantic undertaking at the time, but 
where there is a will there is a way, and the home was built anil paid for in about 
one year after the church property debt was licpxidated. That home cost about 
.$3,000, and every cent was i)aid i)efore it was occupied. Then the cement side- 
walks were hiid at a cost of about $120, and last but not least came the greatest 
struggle of all. The parish had progressed so far so well, and it was my desire 
and the people's desiri> that their work should be crowned with success. The 
crowning work of all was the building of that magnitieent little church that now 
stands on the comer of Tenth street. It was not my privilege to see it built 
before I left the parish, but for that purpose the people and myself labored tooth 
and nail in season and out of season, so that when I got my appointment to 
Strawberrj' Point in October, 1904, I turned over to the present pastor upwards 
of $2,000. I may say before I close that the spiritual advancement of the people 
more than kept pace with the material development of the parish." 

Rev. P. M. Loughnane, the present pastor of St. Joseph's, was born in County 
Kerry, Ireland, lie received his classical education at St. Brendan's Seminary, 
Killarney, and studied philosophy and theology at St. Patrick's College. Thurles, 
where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 1893. C!oming to Dut)uque, 
he was assigned as assistant to Verj- Rev. E. JIcLoughlin, at St. JIary's, Clinton, 
Iowa. lie was afterwards transferred to take charge of the parish at Sabula. 
Thence he went to State Center, in Marshall county, where he remained eight 
years. While at State Center he interested himself much in school work which 
he loved. Fr. Loughnane is a versatile scholar, a man of bright mind, and keen 
sense of diseernnu-nt. His ability jis a priest he has demonstrated by the beauti- 
ful new church which will ever remain a monument to his competency and the 
earnestness and worth of his people. Bearing in mind that the congregation 
at Marion is not numerically large nor gifted with the possession of any too much 
of this world's goods, the sacrifices they made for the new church are much en- 
hanced. The greater number of the metnbers of the charge are railroad employes 
and more or less of a fluctuating class. But the Catholic heart is cold and cal- 
lous, indeed, that cannot grow clo(|uent with faith when contemplating the visible, 
the material evidence of a great [lersonal sacrifice for the faith. 

Soon after his advent to St. Joseph's parish the pastor applied all his energy 
to collect for the new church, and by earnest and energetic effort raised about 
$5.(K)0, each and every member of the congregation doing his or her duty in a 
manner truly admirable. 

THE CHURCH AT LISBON 

One of the olde.st, if not the mother church in Linn county, is that at Lisbon. 
We have evideiue of its existence and of early settlers for whose use it was erected 
dating as far i)aek as 1854. Records show that Fr. Emmons, of Iowa City, the 
father of Catholicity in Linn county, made fre<|uent visits to the little town, and 
bai>tiz»Hl and ministered to the needs of the early settlers. Even farther back than 
1854 it is on record that this pioneer of the faith offered the hi)ly sacrifice and 
administered the holy sacraments in the home of Thomas McAllister, east of the 
town of Lisbon. 



412 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

There are those living today who remember these times and conditions, and 
the fact is not questioned that some of the present members of the Lisbon congre- 
gation were regenerated by the saving waters of baptism in the home of Thomas 
McAllister, and it is even possible to meet occasionally those who well remember 
Father Emmons and his teaching. 

It was through the efforts of this faithful pioneer shepherd, aided by the good 
will and support of the scattered few, that the old church of Lisbon was called 
into existence, and it is through veneration for the pastor and the pioneer that it 
is still allowed to stand, though no longer used for divine worship. This old 
landmark was erected in 1854. The site on which the little edifice was erected 
was donated by Jacob S. Pfautz, who also contributed to the present church 
building. Be it said to their eternal honor that among the contributors for the 
first church there are several names which are not Ijelonging to the limited list 
of Catholics of those days. 

Among the pioneers of those days we find such names as Peter Heller, George 
Ringer, Mike Iloover, Samuel Bell. Fred Rabenau, "William Andre, Thomas 
:\IeClellaud, I. G. Trigenfuse. Sam Ellison. John Walton. J. A. McClelland. Jos- 
eph Owens, Thomas Andre, and others. 

Father Emmons was only a missionary in Lisbon at the time his home charge 
was Iowa City, but as far as preaching and teaching the word and breaking the 
bread of life to the children of the faith his jurisdiction was not confined by any 
boundarj- or limitation. 

The first resident pastor of Lisbon was Rev. W. Downey, who resided there for 
about three years after his term of service. Father Daly followed, and for a 
short time resided in Lisbon, and afterwards in ]\Iechanicsville. and is spending 
the evening of his life in Atlantic, Iowa. After this time Lisbon was attached to 
Marion and was attended for a while by Father Laffin. "When Father Ilartigan 
succeeded to the charge at Marion he also attended Lisbon. 

It was reserved, however, to the present popular pastor of ilariou, Rev. P. M. 
Loughnane, to add another laurel to his crown by replacing the old time-honored 
landmark with the present ornate and well" designed church building. 

The Catholic cemetery, which is a part of the property of this charge, was 
purcliased in Father Downey 's time. 

THE SISTERS OF MERCY 

The Sisters of Mercy came to Cedar Rapids on the Feast of St. Mary Mag- 
dalen, 22d July, 1875. They came from Davenport, which at that time was 
sub.iect to Dubuque Bishop for there was only one diocese in Iowa. Sister Mary 
Isadore and Sister IMary Gertrude were the first to visit Cedar Rapids, and in a 
few weeks afterwards Sister ]Mary Agatha and Sister Mary Francis came. These 
four formally took possession of the building which had been secured for school 
purposes, and in September, 1875, St. Joseph's Academy and parish school was 
opened for the first time in Cedar Rapids. 

This community at Cedar Rapids remained subject to the mother house in 
Davenport until 1881, when the soiithem part of the state was cut off and made 
a new diocese. This new division of the Dubuque diocese necessitated the sub- 
jection of the Cedar Rapids community to the diocese of Dubuque and so the 
branch house became an independent community in November, 1881. 

At this time the community at Cedar Rapids consisted of about ten Sisters, 
and there were about twenty-five boarders at St. Joseph's Academj- at the time. 

Previous to the installation of Father Quinn as pastor of Immaculate Con- 
ception church the parish school was independent of the academy. After this 
they were united and the academic school became a free school for all those who 
were unable to pay for tuition. 



UL'AKEK OATS TKAIN 




^Hn- 




SCENE ON CEDAR RIVER 




ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH. CEDAR KAI'IDS 



TATIIOMCISM IN LINN COUNTY 413 

This anaugeinent continued till the spring of 1905, when the Sisters secured 
the beautiful house and property known as Mound Farm, on which they now have 
a beautiful mother house and academy. Up to 1905 St. Joseph's was the mother 
house of tlie Cedar Ilapids community. Now the mother house is at "the 
Mound. " 

The new Sacred Heart Academy opened in September, 19U5, with thirty 
boarders. It is situated on the same location as the mother house of the com- 
munity. 

From the Cedar Rapids mother house of the Sisters of Meniy the following 
branch houses have l)een and an^ supplied: Decorali, Grand Junction, Anamo.sa, 
Manchester, D»AVitt, Charles City, Elma, Oelwcin, Bernard, New Haven, Water- 
loo, Marion, St. Wence.slaus, St. Joseph's, Cedar Kapids, with Mercy Hospital, 
and a new hospital at Kalispcl, Montana. 

In the community at present there are about one liundred and tiiirty members. 
In the novitiate or preparatory school for a-spirants to the Sisterhood there are 
about forty young latlies laying the fonndaticn for tlieir future life work. 

Any attempt at church historj- in a state or in a city would be incomplete 
witiiout honoral)le mention of the Sisters. The history ()f the jjarish school is 
also the hisfoiy of the Sisters, that glorious body of women who have given and 
who give their lives to the uplifting of the human race. That branch of the 
Sisterhood which devotes their lives to teaching is one of the most powerful 
allies the church has in keeping her memK'rs faithful. The teaching orders are 
not alone in the work of education. The Sisters have done a great work on the 
battle field and in hospitals in opening the eyes of the world to tlie great ends 
sought by the church. 

MERCY HOSPITAL 

There are many orders, each doing their own work in their own place. Wher- 
ever there is work to be done, or good deeds to be performed, there we find the 
Sisters witli an eye single to their work and looking for their reward in the world 
to come. To come from general to particulars, I would i)e untrue to my promise 
if I (lid not call particular attention to one institution in particular, na?nely, 
Mercy Hospital. Tliere are few Catholics in Iowa who are not acquainted with 
Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, and the great work being done by the Sisters of 
Mercy. 

The absolute need for such an institution became so much a necessity in Cedar 
Rapids that on November 15, 1900, the Sisters for the first time began operations 
in an old residence quite near their convent. For three years, under conditions 
entirely inadequate, they ministered to the needs of their constantly increasing 
patrons, till they were compelled by necessity and their rapidly increasing work 
to build the present institution, which compares favorably with any similar insti- 
tution in the country and offers everj- facility to the medical profession. 

The comer stone of this beautifid building was laid on August 15, 1902, and 
the building was completed I)y De.-ember 1, I'.tOI}. It cost over $100,000. It is 
in ciiargt^ of tiie Sisters of Mercy of Cedar Rapids community, who also have 
I'liarge of Sacred Hi'art Academy <in Mound Farm, and of St. Joseph's parochial 
school, with St. Wenceshius' school and St. licrchman's Seminary, Marion, to- 
getiier with several schools through Iowa, and of the Mercy Hospital at Kalispel. 
Montana. 

So great has been the success of tliis institution that there is need at present 
for an addition. There is a large training school for nurses in whicli nf pre.s«'nt 
then' are twenty-five pupils. Tiie management of the institution is accomplished 
by tlie Sisters, who at pri'sont number about fifteen, among whom therv are seven 
qualified trained nurses. 



414 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Ability of more than ordinary character is required to manage successfully 
an institution like Mercy Hospital. And as the woz-k increases the greater the 
strain on the management. This position of trust and responsibility has been 
capably filled for nearly ten years by Sister IMarj' Alphonsus. She it was who 
first assumed charge of the little hospital on Third avenue. She has seen that 
mustard seed grow into the present beautiful institution. Sister Alphonsus, 
alw;;ys solicitous for the comfort of others, overtaxed her limited strength. Never 
physically strong, she has given herself most generoasly in constant care and vig- 
ilance to the dvities of her responsible position. Forgetting herself to be of 
help to others, it is not surprising that her frail constitution should give way, 
when one considers the responsibility of her position. This fact, coupled with 
the recent death of her beloved mother, to whom she was much attached, almost 
completely undermined her physical condition, and acting on the adivce of her 
medical adviser and that of her superior mother, N. Teresa. Sister Alphonsus 
i-etired from the hospital to recuperate her failing strength. During her years 
of office she made herself a general favorite with all with whom she had to do. 

SACRED HEART ACADEMY 

This high grade school fills a long felt want in Cedar Rapids and Linn county. 
There is no more suitable location for a young ladies' academy than Cedar Plap- 
ids, and for its site there is not perhaps in the west a place more suited than where 
the Sacred Heart Academy stands. Situated on the highest elevation, perhaps, 
in the county, it is by nature and the skill and taste admirably fitted to generate 
both sound minds and healthy bodies. Recently a new addition has been built 
to the former academy. 

The church realizes that true progi-ess is the law which God has given to His 
creation. Any progress is creation continued. The gospel of Christ is the gospel 
of progress. The mind to be progressive. must seek Him and find Him, and finding 
Him, be of value to the child and the state. 

This the church understands better than she gets credit for, and this is the 
reason why her parish school is her first care after her own existence has been 
established. Hence any attempt at her history which would not include her 
schools would he incomplete and dvi'arfed. In the school is sown the seed which 
is afterwards nursed and cared for by the church, in its life-giving sacramental 
system. 

One of the chief parish schools in Linn county is Sacred Heart Academy, at 
Grreen Mound Farm. It is a school for young ladies in which are taught all 
subjects which qualify candidates for the varied positions to which they may wish 
to aspire, such as teaching, bookkeeping, stenography, etc., etc. 

St. Berchman's Seminary at Marion is a boarding school for boys who have 
not attained the age of fourteen. In this school, vchich is in charge of the Sisters 
of Mercy of Cedar Rapids, the most approved methods are employed in impart- 
ing thorough and comprehensive instruction in all the elementary branches of 
an English education, together with a marked attention to the moral culture of 
the boys, which makes them an honor to their parents and "society. Careful 
attention is given to their physical needs and bodily comfort, and diligent care 
is extended in seeing that their time in the seminary is put to the best advantage. 
Music and elocution are among the subjects taught. 

The seminary is located on First avenue and Fifteenth street. It is situated 
on a twenty acre area, beautifully wooded, and affording excellent facilities for 
outdoor games which boys usually indulge in. 

The seminary has its own sources of supply in all edible stuffs. It has a 
beautiful orchard and vegetable gardens, and its needs in the way of dairy pro- 
duce and poultry are supplied from its own farm. While witliin the city limits, 



CATHOLICISM IN LINN COUNTY 415 

it is far removed from noise and all disturbing elements which may in any way 
militate against the host results. 

The apartments are spacious and are furnished with every modern improve- 
ment conducive to health and comfort. The building is heated by steam, well 
ventilated, and lighted by electricity. Hot and cold water are in use for the 
bath system. At the present time a large addition is being built to meet the 
needs of the increasing patronage. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 

Linn County Statistics 

POPULATION 

In 1840 the greatest number of people to the square mile was in the extreme 
southeastern part of the territory. This was but natural, as nearly all the settlers 
had come by river from St. Louis, only a few coming by wagons up to this time. 
The settlers had in part come up along the Red Cedar river, and Linn county 
claimed a population of 1,373, few of whom had lived more than two years in 
the eoiuity. Settlers also ascended the Iowa and Des ]\loines rivers. By 1850 
land seekei-s had followed the Des Moines river and had already foimd homes as 
far west as Boone county. 

It was a severe blow to the agricultural interests of Linu county and the new- 
born state when news of the gold fever reached the borders. Not only the 
newspapei-s stirred up the people, but hmidreds of parties crossed the state in 
wagons, stopped along the way and talked incessantly about the great diggings 
in California. The yovmg men were fired with enthusiasm. Work on the farm 
was hard and the returns small. Thus Linn county lost many of its best and most 
enterprising yoimg men. Some, it is true, returned again after a stay of a few 
years in the gold fields, but a large number never came back, but either died or 
remained on the coast. While Linn coimty lost many settlers it also gained others, 
who started west expecting to join mining parties, but who settled down as 
farmei's instead. From 1849 to 1857 was a restless era of migration in what we 
call the middle west. In fact it extended over the entire country. There were 
many causes for this. An era of prosperity sprang up after the Mexican war, 
the gold discoveries and the opening up of much fertile land by the government. 
All this, no doubt, stirred people to find new homes or seek new adventures. The 
panic of '57 of course for a time put a stop to all speculations, especially in west- 
ern lands. 

The greatest influx of people into the state was from 1850 to 1856, when the 
population increased from 192,214 to 517,875, an increase of 169.4 per cent. 
The population of the state for 1910 is 2,225,771. Linn county felt the same 
influx, for the population increased from 5,444 in 1850 to 14,702 in 1856. 

There seems to have been an increase of aboiit 8,000 by the census of 1860, 
showing that while the panic may have kept some at home who might have gone 
west, few new settlers sought the west to make new homes. The population of 
the coimty and the towns will give the reader an idea of the gradual growth in 
the population. 

Here are some figures showing our developmeut : 

In Mav, 1838, the population of the county was 205. This had increased to 
2,643 in 1*844. In 1847 we had 3,954 people, 4,762 in 1849, 5,444 in 1850, 6,870 
in 1852, 10.802 in 1856, 18,947 in 1860, 18,693 in 1863, showing the effects of the 
Civil war, this conflict not only taking many of our substantial citizens to serve 
in the armies, but for the time impeding emigration. 

In 1865 the figures had increased to 20,754, in 1867 to 24,549, in 1870 to 
31,080, in 1875 to 31,875, in 1880 to 37,237, in 1S85 to 40,720, in 1890 to 45,303, 
in 1895 to 49,905, in 1900 to 55,392, and in 1905 to 57,362. 



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LINN COUNTY STATISTK^S 417 

At the tiiiu' tliis is liciii;^ wi-itti'ti iIh' |ni|>uliitiiiii I'm- tlir loiinty fur 1!lln li;is 
not been announced. 

The cities and the towns nf tlie I'ounty liave •.M-iiwn with it. 

Cedar Hajiids in 1SS,') liad l.'>.4'_>(; jM-ople; in ISIMI, lS.(l-_>(): in 1S|)."). •_' 1.. ">.').') , in 
l!t(l(), '_>,").(;:)(;; in 1!MI.'). 2SJ.')f): and in litlO. :{'J..S7(). 

Marion in 1885 liad a i)o|)ulatit>n of 2,678; in 18!K), U.OIH ; in IS!)."), :{,7lil); in 
19(KJ. 4,102; in 1905,4.112. 

Mt. Vernon boasted of 85!) p.-ople in 1885. 1.25!) in 1S!)0. 1.178 in 1S!)5. 1.G2!) 
in 1!)00, and l,(3ti4 in 1905. 

Lisbon's popuhition in 1885 was 7():{. \o statistics are avaihiblc for 1S!)(», 
hilt in 1895 tlic town liad 817 people, !»5ti in 1900. juid 948 in 1905. 

The i)opiilation of Center Point in 1885 was 565; in 1890, 615: in 1895, 595; 
in 1!)00. 674; and in 1905, 823. 

Spring^-illc in 1885 was credited with .'>61 ; in 1890, 518; in 1895, 562; in 
1900. 509; and in 1905, 582. 

In 1890 the population of Central Citv was <riven as 467; in 18!)5. 594; in 
1900, 62:5; and in 1905.607. 

Walker in 1895 had 485 people, 505 in 1900. and 571 in 1905. 

In this connection it is of interest to note that in 1836 the pi>pulation of 
Wisconsin Territory, of which Iowa was then a part, west of the Mississippi 
river was, Dubuque county 4.274. Des Jloines county 6,257, or a total of 10.531. 

A second census was taken in 1838. which showed that there were in sixteen 
counties orpmized from the oripjinal two counties a population of 22.85!t. .[ones 
county had 241 people at this time. Cedar 557. Jolinson 237. and Linn 205. 

In the lirst constitutional convention, which met at Iowa City October 7, 
1844, and adjourned Xovemher 1. 1>^44, this county was represented by Thomas 
J. McKean, Samuel W. Durham, L. M. Stronfj:. 

The constitution adopted by tliis convention was re.jectcd by the people at an 
election held Aujrust 4, 1845, the vote being, for 7,235. against 7,656. 

In the stM'ond constitutional convention, which met at Iowa Cit.v Ma.v 4. 1846. 
and ad.ioumed May 19, the count.v was rejirescnted by Socrates II. Trvon. 

At the election on Aufrnst 3. 184t>. tliis constitution was adi)i)ted by the people 
by a small majorit.v. It was presented to conirre.ss in December. 1846. and on the 
28th of the same month an act was pa.ssed for the admission <if Iowa into the 
I'nion. 

The third constitutional convention sat in Iowa City from Januar.v 19 t4i 
.March 3, 1857, ami adopted a constitution which was ratified by the peoi)lc on 
Augu.st 3 following. In this convention Linn's representative was llosea W. 
Oray. 

In this county the vote on the constitution was 1,3(>7 .ves. !)55 no. In the state 
the vote wa.s. yes 40,000, no 38,681. The result shows the fii-st siprn of a change 
in the p()litical sentiment in state and county. The republicans favored the 
constitution, and the democrats ojjposed it. 

Followinp are the members of the General As.semblv from Linn county from 
1846 to date. In the Territorial Lejrislaturc 1843-4. R<ibert Sm.vthe was our 
representative in the House of Representatives, and William Abbe in the Senate. 

J. S. Alexander. .Marion, senator 26th. 26th extra session, 27th. 2Sth and 29th. 

II. (!. Anple, Cedar Rapids, senator Stli, ><th extra session, 9th. 9th c\tra 
.session. 

Ellsworth N. Hates. Cedar Rapids, representative 7th. 

E. J. C. Bealer, Cedar Rjipids. representative 29th, 30th, 31st. 

.\. Sidney Belt. Cedar Rapids, representative 11th. 

•f. W. Howman. Marion. repres<Mitative 3.3d, 34th. 

I. I*. Bowdish, Wanbeek, re|iresenfaf ivc 17th. l!lth. 

David Brant. Cedar Rapids. n'|>rescntative 26th. 26th extra se.ssion. 



418 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

W. R. Brown, Viola, representative 18th. 

J. P. Carbee, Spring\'ille, representative 10th. 11th. 

J. P. Conkey, representative 5th, 5th extra session. 

Jennings Crawford, Wapsie, representative 8th, 8th extra session. 

Joshua Doran, Mt. Vernon, representative 22d. 

William G. Dows, Cedar Rapids, representative 27th, 28th. 

Stephen L. Dows, Cedar Rapids, senator 16th, 17th. 

Charles G. Gitchell, Walker, representative 23d, 24th. 

John T. Hamilton, Cedar Rapids, representative 21st, 22d, 23d. 

John W. Henderson, Cedar Rapids, senator 18th, 19tli, 20th, 21st. 

Robert Holmes, Cedar Rapids, representative 5th, 5th extra session. 

Moses C. Jordan, Central City, representative I6th. 

Ezekiel B. Kephart, Western, senator 1-lth, 15th. 

John E. Kurtz, Li.sbon, representative 6th. 

William B. Leach, Cedar Rapids, representative 12th. 

William D. Linzenberg, Waubeek, representative 14th, 15th. 

Dan Lothian. Marion, representative 6th. 

John McAllister, Cedar Rapids, representative 30th, 31st. 32d. 

F. McClelland. Cedar Rapids, representative 26th. 

Arthur M. McKeel, Fairfax, representative 15th. 

Isaac Milburn. Cedar Rapids, representative 9th extra session. 

Ernest R. ]\Ioore, Cedar Rapids, representative 32d. 33d, 34th. 

H. J. Neitert, Walker, representative 25th. 26th, 26th extra session, 27th. 

Jonathan J. Nugent, Nugent, representative 20th. 

Adam Perry, Western, representative 12th. 

Isaac ]\I. Pre.ston, Marion, representative 3d, senator 4th. 5th, 5th extra session. 

A. St. Clair Smith, Cedar Rapids, representative 25th. 

J. H. Smith. Cedar Rapids, senator 22d, 23d. 

Robert Smythe, Mt. Vernon, representative 1st, 1st extra session, senator 12tli, 
13th, representative 20th. 

Oliver 0. Stanchfield, Cedar Rapids, representative 13th. 

Redman D. Stephens, Marion, representative 18th. 

W. C. Stuekslager, Lisbon, representative 28th, 29th. senator 30th. 31st, 32d. 

John M. Terry, Cedar Rapids, senator 24th. 25th. 

W. G. Thompson, Marion, senator 6th. 7th, representative 21st. 

William Ure, Fairfax, representative 16th, 17tli. 

E. D. Wain. Mt. Vernon, representative 7tli. 

Edgar A. Warner, Waubeek, representative 13th. 

Charles Weare. Cedar Rapids, representative 10th. 

Amos Witter, Mt. Vernon, representative 8th, 8th extra .session. 

Joseph 1?. Young, Marion, representative 9th, 9th extra session, senator 10th. 
11th. 

Linn county has never had a governor, lieutenant governor, a secretary of 
state, state auditor, state treasurer, or member of railroad commission. 

John W. Atkins served as superintendent of public instruction from 1882- 
1888. John T. Hamilton served as speaker of the house during the session of 
1890. S. N. Parsons served as secretary of the senate in the 24th General As- 
sembly. George Greene. Jr., served as adjutant general from 1890-1894. L. S. 
Merclumt was .state binder during the years 1885-88. George A. Lincoln has been 
fish commissioner continuously since April 1, 1901. James II. Trewin is serving 
as a member of the state board of education. J. T. Hamilton was a member of 
the state board of control from 1906-1909. Johnson Brigham, a former resident 
of Linn county, has lieen state librarian since 1898. On the supreme bench of 
liiis state siit (ieorge Greene. Xonnan W. Isl)ell, and J. H. Rothnx'k. L. S. Jler- 



LINN COUNTY STATISTICS 41f) 

chant was staU> oil inspector for a few months in 1893. lie was succeeded bv 
Luther A. Brewer, who served from 1893-18!)7. 

In conifress we have hjul the following representatives: \Vm. Smytho. and 
Wm. G. Thompson, Marion; J. T. Hamilton, and James W. Good, Cedar Rjipids. 



CHAPTER XL 

The Bridges Across the Cedar at Cedar Rapids and Early Steamboat- 

ing on the Cedar River 

One of the most enterprising men who devoted all his time to the upbuilding of 
Kingston, which later became part of Cedar Rapids, was David W. King, who ar- 
i-ived a short time after Robert Ellis, ilr. King and the settlers on the west side of 
the river early devised schemes by which to get in touch with the east side and the 
county seat. True, it was all right when the river was frozen over and in summer 
when the river was dovni so that it was safe to ford the stream, but there were 
times when it was impossible to ford the river on accoimt of high water. 

D. W. King obtained a license to operate a ferry across the river, which he 
continued to run up to the time of his death in 1854. Tliis ferry was operated 
till about 1857 when the bridges were opened. Even for some time after the 
first bridge was put in operation did the ferrj- do much business, as the first 
bridge soon after it had been completed went out with the flood in the spring of 
"57, and the second bridge, finished that fall, also went out bj' an ice gorge m 
•January the next year. Then for a time the ferry was used from and to JIay's 
Island as the bridge from the ea.st side to May's Island had been properly erected 
so as to stand the floods. 

The establishment of a ferry at this point brought trade to Cedar Rapids and 
accomplished much in making Cedar Rapids a business center, to which place trav- 
elers and others came. It was not till many years later that free bridges could be 
offered to the citizens of the to^\^l. But in this respect the city was ahead of 
other cities of the state. 

It was David W. King who early began a toll l)ridge, and it is said that "when 
the boulder in the river near the Watrous mill was visible the early pioneer could 
with safetj' drive across the river." If it was not they had to pay for crossing 
on the toll bridge. David King's ferrj' was the first step in the direction of 
progress in Cedar Rapids. By virtue of a law which went into effect December 
22, 1848, Mr. King was authorized to establish and keep a ferry across Cedar 
river at a point in Linn coimty opposite C'edar Rapids for a term of ten yeai-s 
with exclusive privilege for the space of one mile on either side. Here King for 
a number of years did a thriving business, and Cedar Rapids received the benefits 
of the trade which extended west into Benton county. 

THE FIRST BRIDGE 

In an old paper, being part of the records of the house pa,ssed January 2."?. 
1853, the follov\ing may be found: "An Act to create a Board of Commissioners 
with authority to erect a free bridge across the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids in 
Linn County. 

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Genei'al Assembly of the State of Iowa 
that John JF. Jlay, Frederick A. Williams and Gabriel Carpenter be and are 
lierehy appointed and constituted a Board of Commissioners to receive voluntary 
subscriptions in trust for the erection of a free bridge across the Cedar river 
at Cedar Rapids in Rapids Township, Linn County, with a draw of not less than 



BHI IHIES ACROSS TUK CEDAR AT CP^DAR RAPIDS 421 

forty I'fci III said hridn"' '<'•■ tlu> fr('<' passa^.'!' of hoats ami citlicr craft iiavifrating 
said river. 

"Sex". li. I'rovidt'd, that tlic Hoard slumld funiisli HiuuIn in the sum of 
$20,(KK.).CM) to be approved liy tlie Couuty Jiid<?c of Limi County. 

"Sec. 4. Providing, that tlie construction of the bridge should be begun 
witliin ninety days from the time of the l)egiiniing to collect subscriptions and 
that the bridge should bo completed witiiin two ycai-s from the time that activi' 
work was begun." 

This bridge was bcgiui in the fall of 18'>{'> and com|)lctcd during the winter 
of 18o() and 1857. It was located below May's Island at the foot of Daniels 
street, now Seventh avenue. This liridge was really gotten up to spring a real 
estate boom in property owned by Carpenter. Major May and others on thr west 
.side of the river. It is said Ma.jor ^Liy biinself subscribed $l,(K)(l. However, 
the l(H-ation of the Itridge was ideal. It wa.s needed and wa.s something the people 
of the town took a great pride in; in the early day toll bridges were the nile and 
not the exception. During the early spring of IS')? this britlge in a high flood 
was carried away and two sistei-s by the name of Black, living on the west side 
and who were crossing the bridge at the time, lost their lives. 

During the following siunmer there was much agitation for a bridge, espei-- 
ially by the people having real estate anil residing on the west side of the river 
and farmers who had located in the western part of the ct)unty as well as in soiitli- 
e.Tst Benton county. During the summer a floating bridge was built across flic 
river at what is known now as Fii>t aven\ic. This was also a short lived bi-idgc. 
having been carried away by the ice gorge in the spring of 18.^8. 

During the same summer materials were secured and some was .saved fi-om the 
old bridge and a temporary bridge was erected across May 's Island, between Jlay "s 
Island and east ('edar Raiiids. while on the west side a ferry boat was used. In 
February, 18.')3, the countj- court granted a licen.se for twenty-five yeaiN to H. (i. 
Angle for the erection and maintenance of a toll bridge' at P''irst avenue. It 
provided that no other toll bridge should be ere<-ted on the river for two years 
within two miles on either side of this contemplated toll bridge. In the dtn-ree 
of the court it was al.so mentioned that in case a free bridge was constructed within 
two miles a reasonable sum of money should be paid to the person or company 
owning the toll bridge. This toll privilege was transferred in the following year 
to George dreene. John Wcjire. William (Jn-cne, I'. \V. Karb'. A. F. Steadman. 
H. E. lligley, .\. H. Brown. Lowell and Lawson Daniels. E. II. Dobbs. J. J. Child, 
and .1. 1*. Rogers. This brid^'c. however, was not opened for fratMc \uifil the 
winter of 1 S.")f)-()( I. The sfiM-kholders were made up of Cedar Kapids people, and 
at one time the stock was above |>ar. The prices charged were as follows: "i.") 
cents for a double U'nm and wagon ; for driving cattle .") cents a head : for driving 
sheep 3 cents a head; and for pedestrians 1 cent each. Some time lati>r i-eiiuction 
was made by the management for round trip ticket holders. Many s(iuabbles 
were had over these tii-kcts. It is said that an Irishman came to T. .1. Dudley, Jr., 
wanting to start suit for preventing him returning, he having lost his round 
triji ticket, and offering him $1<I.()(I. Mr. Dudley (piietly went down to the ofHce 
of the company and told the man to cross. He was permitf<'d to do so and 
willingly parted with his $10.1K) to Dudley, the latter paying the customary price 
to the gatekeeper. This storj' of Dudley's wit. showing how a law.ver got the 
best of it. was repeated in many families in Cedar Hajiids. and as a consequence 
a number of young men t<Mik u() the study of law for a profession. 

For a numlM>r of years citizens ri'siding in west Cedar Rapids and in the 
ea.stern part of the county made various attempts for a free bridge across the 
river. Much of the grain and produci* came from Benton eount.v antl the west- 
ern |>nrf of I.iuii i-onnty. .\ iinmbiT of grain merchants and others were located 



422 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

on that side of the river aud had their grain in storage at that place and were 
asking the railroad authorities for permission to erect freight houses on that side 
of the river. A number of citizens of Cedar Rapids who were interested in 
Kingston real estate also attempted this enterprise, believing that the time was 
not far distant before Kingston would become the more important town of the 
two. A petition was circulated for a free bridge across the Cedar river and pre- 
sented to the board of supervisoi-s to take the matter under consideration. At the 
January term, 1871, the board appropriated $14,000 for the purpose, providing 
that the city or citizens of Cedar Rapids, or both, should guarantee to furnish the 
balance of such sum as should be necessary to pay for a first-class iron bridge 
across the Cedar. It was further pro\aded thiit no part of the eoiuity funds 
should be expended until the whole siun necessaiy had been raised by subscrip- 
tion or otherwise. The citizens of Cedar Rapids, and others interested in the 
city, at once circulated petitions for funds and also authorized the mayor of Cedar 
Rapids to call an election and vote on the question of issuing bonds to aid in the 
construction of said bridge. This petition was signed by S. C. Bever, one of the 
early bankers, and by more than fifty citizens wanting a bridge located at what is 
now First avenue, asking that the city vote bonds to the extent of $6,000. prom- 
ising that the citizens would guarantee the balance for the erection of a bridge. 

Another petition was signed by John F. Ely and about one hundred other 
citizens all interested in locating the bridge at the foot of Park avenue, now 
Third avenue. These gentlemen asked for the issuance of $12,000 worth of city 
bonds, and were willing to guarantee any additional sum necessarj' over and 
above the amount appropriated by the coimty and city, which they were to raise 
by private .subscription. Thus, there were two factions within the city, one 
working against the other in the matter of the location of the bridge. These 
factions were composed, of course, of people who were interested in the location 
at a point that would be most advantageous to their private interests. 

During the winter of 1870-71 it was very cold and severe until in March 
when it became suddenly wann. Heavy rains followed and the river on or about 
the first of March was very high and the ice commenced to move out. Jjarge 
cjuantities of ice came rolling and surging down the stream and carried everv- 
thing down the river. In a few days the toll bridge at First avenue went down, 
struck by one of the ice floes which made it collapse. The Bourne saw mill also 
became a total wreck, and more or less damage was done to all the mills along 
the river. On account of the disaster to the toll bridge all communication with 
Kingston was cut off and it became necessary to do something at once. 

The city council was called together and the mayor called for an election. In 
this council sat J. J. Snouflfer. Dr. Mansfield, Stephens, C. C. Cook, Da^id Den- 
linger, E. S. Hill, James Bell, and E. Bobbins, with Mayor Thomas Z. Cook. 
The cit}^ voted bonds to the extent of $12,000 by a majority vote of 483 for and 83 
against the bond proposition. All this time E. Robbins, one of the aldermen, 
operated a small boat called the "Aurora," which had previously been used 
between this point and Vinton, as a ferrj' boat above the dam. It was so arranged 
that eight teams could cross at the same time. 

About the same time Keecli & Co. established a ferry boat that was operated 
by horse power attached to a cable stretched across the river. 

The two men having the most to do with the building of this liridge were 
William Ure, a member of the board of supervisors, from Scotch Grove, and Wil- 
liam Richmond, a part of the city council, who had charge of the entire work. 
These men devoted a great deal of their time in helping along the speedy con- 
struction of the bridge. The contract for the superstructure was let in April to 
Messrs. O'Hanlan and O'llara at a cost of $22,000.00. The contract provided 
that the work should be done within ninety days from April loth. The bridge 
proper was erected by the Canton Bridge Company, of Canton, Ohio, and cost 




JUUGE N. M. IHHHAKI) 



EARLY STEAMBOATING ON THE CEDAR iSA 

about $20,00() for the ahiitmcDt ami piers. Tin- otlicr iiwessary iiuisoiir)- work 
made a total cost of $42,(HI(). Tho bridge fund eonsisted of the following amounts : 
The county expended $15, 000; eity hotuls. $rj.(M)(>: suiiscriptions paid, about 
$16,000. 

For many yeai-s tJiis bridge was eoiisidereil as a eowiity bridj,'e and all inoiieys 
used fi>r repairs were paid from the eouiity briilge ruiul ; later it was looked upon 
as a city bridge, and repairs, ete., were paid for out of the eity treasury. This 
bridge wius completed August 15th and a celebration was had. It is still used 
and the bonds have long since been paid. 

During the year 1874 the board of supervisoi*s appropriated $8,000 for the 
B avenue bridge and the citizens subscribed $212,000, of which siun X. B. Brown 
subscribed $5,000, George Greene $4,(K)0, William Greene .$4,000. Higley estate 
$2,000. A contract was let for tlie bridge in September, 1874, in the amount of 
$28,500; other additions were nuide, making the bridge cost about $82,000. 

Fourteenth avenue bridge, known as the James street bridge, was begun in 
August, 1875, and completed in December of the same j'ear at a total cost of 
.$27,000. The county appropriated for this bridge $11,500, the city $t),000, and 
the property ownei-s paid $0,500, T. M. Sinclair paying the largest amount. 

The First avenue bridge was constructed in 1884 at a cost of about $25,000, 
the bridge being opened for traffic in November, 1884. 

The Second avenue bridge, being a cement bridge with railings, cost about 
$110,000, aiui was opened for traffic in December, 1905. 

The new Fourteenth avenue, or James .street, bridge was commenced by the 
Union Construction Company in 1909, and completed in the spring of 1910 at a 
cost of about $80,0(X). 

EARLY STELAMBOATIXG ON THE CEDAR 

The following accoimt of some early steamboating adventures on the Cedar 
river is from the pen of B. L. Wick, and is taken from the first volume of the 
Proceedings of the Historical SiR-iety of Linn county. It is of interest. 

The subject matter of steamboating on the Cedar will scarcely attract any 
attention today and means only a pleasure .iaunt with more or less inconvenience 
among sandbars on the upper river. However, historically speaking, steamboat- 
ing on this river was an epoch-making period for this section of the countrv', ami 
the prosperity of our city was due in a large measure, t<) our dam, our grist, .saw 
and woolen mills; and to our steamboat traffic. These industries made Cedar 
Rapid.s. 

It has been said that the history of a town is frequently the histor\' of a great 
river. This is true of nearly all the great European cities and is ctpially true of 
the great marts of conuneree in this country. The great Father of Waters has. 
however, played an important part in the development of the middle west, of 
which great body of water the f{M Cedar is one of its many tributaries. It has 
been stated that this great river system has 16,0(X) miles of navigable waters, and 
it is further the river along whose banks at least three of the ?'uropean powers 
have contestefl for the extension of territory-. I shall leave this discussion out of 
the question, and confine myself to one of its many branches — the Hed Cedar. 

It was not till August 7, 1807, that Robert Fulton pnipclled the Clermont up 
the Hudson by means of steam imvigation at the rate of five miles an hour, and 
solved forever, the great question of water navigation. It was not long till the 
inventor and his friend. Livingston, extended their operations to the great west, 
and began building steamboats at Pitt.sburg, and on December 6. 1812, the 
"Orleans" of 400 tons burden, was the first steamer whieh made the trip to New- 
Orleans, and thus opened up the newly acipiired posse.ssittns. This boat was com- 
manded by W. I. Roosevelt, a sturdy ancestor of a worthy descendant. 



424 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Prior to this time the products of the great West had beeu transported li.\' 
means of rafts and flat boats, both slow and dangerous. Now river trade could be 
carried on up as well as douni the river, and in what was then considered very 
quick time. 

During the year 1819, Capt. Nelson was the first to propel a steamer. "The 
Independence," up the Mississippi river from St. Louis. It was not till 1823. 
according to an old pioneer. Dr. Isaac Galland, that Capt. James White, com- 
manding the steamer "Mandan." passed the rapids at Keokuk. 

In 1831, Col. George Davenport, the founder of the town which beare his 
name, explored the Red Cedar as far as Rock creek, and at this place established 
a trading post witli the Indians, which continued for four yeai-s. This is the 
tii-st navigation of this river by the whites on record. The first steamboat on 
the Des iloines river, of which we have any knowledge, was in 1837, which arrived 
as far as Keosauqua. The first keel boat was o^\•ned by Capt. Cash, and eame up 
in the following year. 

It seems that the settlers of the ttn-ritorj' early began to encourage steamboat 
traffic with the world. On the 12th of January. 1830, the legislature of Iowa 
Territorj' empowered a company to incorporate in the amount of $200,000, in 
order to build a slack water canal from the Cedar river to the ^Mississippi by 
way of Rock creek. An act was also passed for the in.speetion of steamboats, 
boilers, etc., at this session. Congre.ss on November 6, 1846, for the purposes of 
improving the river traffic, gi'anted certain lands to the Territory of Iowa, to aid 
in the improving of the Des ]\Ioines river for the purpose of navigation. Even 
tlie other day a large appropriation was granted for the erection of locks and a 
canal at the Keokuk rapids on the i\Iississippi. 

The Red Cedar river is about 248 miles long and is comparatively free from 
any rapids as far as this city, and hence, was early looked upon as one of the most 
favored rivers for steamboat navigation. The Iowa, into which the Cedar empties, 
is about 240 miles in length, and not so favorable for navigation. 

It is well known that Linn county was created by an act of the legislature of 
Wisconsin territory, and approved December 21, 1837; and the spot which our 
city now covers, was settled the following spring, by Osgood Shepherd and Wil- 
liam Stone, soon followed by Robert Ellis. Pliiliji Hull, the Listebargers, Thos. 
Gainer and David King. 

One cannot speak of steamboating without mentioning Robert Ellis, our re- 
spected pioneer who landed on the present confines of our city ^May 8. 1838. and 
found only one shanty inhabited, which was on the present location of the T. il. 
Sinclair packing house, and was owned by Philij) Hull; the other hut was built 
near the Cooper mills and was then vacant a.s the owner, Osgood Shepherd, had 
gone east for his family. 'Sir. Ellis located on liis present farm that summer 
and obtained a patent for it from President Polk, and he is no doubt one of the 
very few in this county who hold title direct from the government of this date. 
Mr. Ellis in the winter of 1841). had three flat boats built at Palo, each boat being 
sixty feet long, sixteen feet wide and drawing three fi^t of water when loaded. 
On these boats he loaded four tliousand bushels of wheat which he consigned to 
Noble and ^IcCutchins. of Burlington, millers of that place. On each boat he had 
three men and these were provided with side oars to be used when they got into 
liends of the river. The.v started with their cargo the latter part of ■March and 
arrived after some troulile at Burlington: when arriving at liurliugton the firm 
were in financial trouble and it looked as though the men could not get their pa.v. 
but it was finally ari'anged if ^Ir. Ellis could take flour to New Orleans, they could 
then realize some mone.v and he would be paid. They remained here for some 
little time, and started out the three flat boats again, loaded do\ra with flour. 
They were a long time in getting down the stn^ani but kept on jiaddling when they 
got fast in the stumi)s and otherwise floated down the river. By the latter part 




VIKWS ALONG THK CKDAR RIVER 



EAKLV STEAM BOATING OX THK C'KDAi: V2:> 

of Jiiue tlu'V arrived al .New Drloaus iu sat'i-ty aiul disposrcl ol' tlic Hour, Imt a^aiii 
wi-re unable to realize on the Hour as it had hwn eonsigned to certain brokers and 
the payments were tied up. 'i'hey took in the slave markets and otherwise looked 
around the f,'reat eity wbieh was now the iireat emporium of the west and the 
soutliwest. and then took steamer for Burlinf,'toii. Arrivinf,' at Hurlinprton .Mr. 
Kllis stood no show of gettinjr iiis money, but trusted to luck and lioufiht a horse, 
ridinji hoi-sebaek from Burlinj^on to t'edar Jtapids. Not till that fall did he 
realize anything on this wheat deal, and finally was paid after much trouble by 
the parties, who were not dishonest, but whose projx'rty iuterest.s had been tied 
up so tbey were unable to realize on their ff(Xtds suftieiently to pay ereditors. 

The new waterway of Robert Kllis became the subject of convei*sation for some 
time aftei-wards, and it inspired otbei-s to greater activity. Tlu' people realized 
that they must have an outlet for their produce and cheapen transportation, if 
possible. It became the subject of serious consideration by the settlers. If this 
((ue.stion could be solved, the gi"eatness and importance of the city as a commercial 
center would be a.ssured. By IH.'JI). keel boats hail reached Ivaidioe, antl quite 
a trade was carrietl on a( I'crtnin seasons of the year, mostly in th(> sjjrinjr. and 
mnch prain and farm products were taken away in trade for provisions. 

Thus Scpiire Holmes, the Ilifrley Bros., Daniels & Co.. and several othei-s, from 
Marion and Cedar Riipids, in the early forties Iniilt Hat boats at Westport and 
Ivanhoe and traded orroceries ami other articles the farnu>rs needed for wheat, 
pork, and other produce. This stufl' \v;is shi|)ped in the early spring on flat. 
Iioats. Sheds wen- also ere<'ted .so as to store the grain until such time as the 
boats could be loaded. Old Henry Ko),'ers also erected a saw mill and ship])ed a 
little lumber down the river. It was danjrerous and not practical to ijet the 
linnber down stream, ;ind the scheme was abandoned. 

The first liu'ge Missi.ssippi steamer, which came as fai- as our city limits, was 
in the month of Augrust, 1844, called the "Maid of Iowa." when a number of 
settlers and also a part of Mormons came as landseekers. 

"The first stream boat at Cedar Raitids was the '.Maid of Iowa' comnuuided 
by C'apt. ("has. IJoss. She landed ami cabled to the saw-mill on the .'{rd of 
.Vugust. 1S44. just as the sun was scttiuir." — Extract from Account Book kept 
by .\, B. Brown. 

On this boat was liev. Isjuic Scarles, born in ISlli, who located in Johnson 
county in 1842. He gave the first sermon in true Methodist fashion from the 
deck of the sti-aTuer, ami talked to a large concourse of peoj)le who had a.ssembled 
from the surrounding country. Kai-h pa.s.senger was offered a lot by the enter- 
prising pciijile of the city. As a result of this steaml)oat vcntun-, a .MetluKlist 
church was organized at the home of one of the Listebargers. Din-ing the next 
ten years, many large and small Mississippi steamers nuule the Cedar river (mints 
as far as Cedar Ra|>ids. ami ipiite a trade had been established between St, Louis, 
Keokuk, Burlington and this part of the state. 

The last of the large Mississi|)pi steamers, which made Cedar Rapids, was the 
" Cnclc Tobey," of two humlnul tons burden, which nuule her way up here among 
the brush and overhanging willows in the spring of 18.");{, ami remained at the 
Third avenue landing for several days, at what is now the Warfield-I'ratt-Howell 
building. When dcpartini.'. after taking on a large cargo of grain aiul produce, 
she steamed up the river and turned down the channel on the west side of .May's 
island. A luunber of people are still living who n'uu'mber this steamer and the 
shotits and waving of handkerchiefs as the steamer glided snuxithly down the 
river and out of sight. 

From the Annals of loira. Vol. .">, page 401. F ipiote the following showing the 
rainfall in this state from 1848 to IS.i;'.: "Tn 1848, 21". inches; 184!1, 49 inches: 
18r)(). 41) in.-hes: 18.'.1. 74io inches; lS.-)2, 40 inches; 18.'):?. 4.'» iiu-hes; 18.")4. 2:? 
inches and in 18.').j. 28 iticbes. " Cp to 18.')S, the rainfall was below th>- average. 



426 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

while during the years from '58 to '59, it was above the average. From the 
newspapers of that time, it seems that there were a great many floods during the 
summer months, so that steamboating was common on all the rivers during the 
entire year until frost eame. 

The question has frequently arisen, whether or not the rain fall was greater 
tifty ,vears ago than now, and on the whole, from the old .settlers, and from reports, 
as kept, it would seem to be about the same. All agree, however, that there was 
more water in the rivers, and they give their reasons as follows: "That the 
channel of the river was more narrow, and that the rivers were deeper, and free 
from the mud and the sand, which have now accumulated due to the tilling of the 
soil. Then the river banks were lined with trees, which protected the water from 
the rays of the sun, and the sloughs were filled with water all summer on accomit 
of the high grass, and all these sloughs, creeks, bayous, supplied the river with 
water during all seasons of the year, which is now not the case." All the water 
which fell in those days foimd its way into the river, which is not true after the 
ground became cultivated to any extent, so that it has been figured out that only 
about a fourth of the water finds its wa.v into the river. This, of eo\n-se, ma.v 
lie one of the reasons why steamboating was possible fift.y .vears ago and is not now. 

Of the many enterprising settlers, who came west to make this city their home, 
there were a number of enterprising, wide-awake and industrious men, who had 
courage and besides po,ssessed more than ordinary ability along commercial lines. 
Among these settlers, George Greene, who was a prime mover in every new enter- 
prise, succeeded in organizing a compan,y for the building of a steamboat, to be 
called the "Cedar Rapids,"' and to be especially built for navigation upon the Red 
Cedar river. In this compan,v were, besides Mr. Greene, W. H. Merritt, the Dan- 
iels family. Dr. J. F. FAy, Dr. S. D. Carpenter and later, W. B. Hack. A eon- 
tract was entered into with parties at Pittsburg for the l)uilding of a modem 
.steamboat, to be of white oak 155 feet long, single deck, stern wheel, clinker built, 
to be arranged for freight and passenger tratific, and to draw the least possible 
amoimt of water. The contract price for this steamer was $20,000, and it was 
launched in June. 1858, about three months after the contract was let. It was 
built at Freedom, Beaver county. Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburg. 

As to the subsequent historv of this steamer, I shall confine m,vself to press 
notices from the Cedar Valley Times, which will give .vou an idea of the people 
and how much interest they took in this vessel, which was to connect them with 
the outside world. From the issue of Jul.y 8th, I find the following: "News 
has arrived that the 'Cedar Rapids' left Pittsburg Jul.y 1st, with 100 tons of 
freight." From the issue of Jul.v 22nd: "The 'Cedar Rapids' arrived from 
Pittsburg in three weeks, and is around at the dock at Jlarket St. Roman candles 
were sent up from her decks when she arrived, and the crowd upon the shores 
saluted her with renewed cheers and with a firing of cannons ; below is her Log : 
'Left Pittsl)urg Jul.v 1st, at dark. At Cincinnati the 5th; at Louisville the 8th; 
arrived at St. Louis the 12th; left the 15th; arrived at the mouth of 
the Iowa river at 11 o'clock, and took in tow, 60,000 feet of lumber; five 
feet of water in the channel up to the mouth of the Cedar river. Arrived at 
Moscow Friday evening. Consignees, William Greene, W. B. Maek, H. C. Camp, 
groceries ; L. Daniels. R. C. Rock, Greene and Ha.y. hardware ; W. W. Smith, 0. 0. 
Stanchfield, lumber." The article further goes on describing the steamer as 
follows: "She is 155 feet long, 26 feet wide, and three feet in the hold. She is 
a stern wheel, 14 feet in diameter. 18 feet long, buckets being 15 inches wide. She 
is provided with a decker or smaller engine for supplying the boiler with water, 
also with a smaller engine for hoisting freight out of th<^ hold. All four engines 
are separate machines. She is also supplied with appliances, such as water guage, 
two Evans safety guides, one on each engine, life preservers, fire hose and force 
pump, in short, everything to make her a first-class pa.sseuger boat. The captain 



EARLY STEAM BOATING ON THE CEDAR 427 

is J. M. Autlixiws, a ^■ntleuian who lias had iimch experience with river nagiga- 
tioii ; the pilot is Albert Wemper; mat*, T. Risley ; engineers, J. P. Fulton and 
W. M. Hunter; elerks, J. (". (Jraves, A. \V. Lamb. She had on 300 tons of freight, 
and drew only three feet of water, and when light, draws eleven inches. She had 
on board eighty-four passengers." 

The above description will give you an idea of the tii-st |)as.senger boat of any 
not4i built for traffic in Iowa, and was no doubt at that time, one of the best 
wiuipped steamers for i)as.senger and freight traffic owned exclusively by Iowa 
men and operated upon Iowa rivers. 

On tliis steamer, which mad<' its first trip in 18.")8, was W. B. ,Mii<'k. a pei-son 
well known to Cedar liapids people, and who for half a century, up to the time of 
his death a few yeai-s ago. had been one of the most active business men of our city, 
and in an early day did much in the east in securing funds from the rich in 
various investments in this city. Mr. Mack had come to this city in March of this 
yciir. at the solicitation of Greene and Merritt. and he ent<>red into a partnership 
relation with said men in the banking business. He early sjiw the ojjportunity 
for (Vdar Rapids as a wholesale center, and purcha.sed stock in the steam ship 
compiuiy, went east in June, [)urcha.s<Hl a stock of groceries in Xew York city, had 
them transported by rail to Pittsburg, and personally saw that they were prop- 
erly stored on the "Cedar Rapids." On the route he made a purchase of a con- 
siderable cargo of Kenawha salt. All of which were shipped to Cedar Rapids, 
and was the first exclusive wholesale stock of groceries in this city. This had an 
effect of reducing the price of sidt fn)m $5 per barrel, to one-half, and it had the 
further etTect of reducing the price of nearly everj' commodity, so that Cedar 
Rajjids, on account of its transportation facilities, became known as a chi-ap trad- 
ing center, and I believe has retained that reputation up to the pres<'nt time. 

On this first trip of the "Cedar Ra[)ids. " came as a pa.ssenger from Pittsburg. 
Susan II. Greene, better known to you, as Jlrs. A. S. Belt. If we could only have 
the imjiression of what this seventeen-year-old young lady saw on this trip from 
Pittsburg to Cedar Rajiids, in the '.")0s. along this historic waterway, we should 
undoubtedly have at lea.st a chapter of the history of the country ami of the 
life of the people as she ob.served it, and it would no doubt nuikc a valuable addi- 
tion to the history of this county. 

The "Cedar Rapids" made in all. twelve trips during the .season, to St. Louis, 
stopping at every point along the way to pick up cargo or passengers. In this 
respe<'t, the captain wa.s much like President Stickney. of the Great Western, who 
replied to the manager of an electric road the other day. wanting certain traffic 
relations established, that he would stop for a farm wagon, providing there was 
anything in it. Of the Cedar Rapids business men. who, during this time re- 
ceived larp' shipments of goods from time to tinu\ I note the following: A. C. 
Keyes, J. S. Cook, A. H. Atwell, II. C. Camp. II. G. Angle. W. \V. Smith Bros., 
Stanehfield, Taylor, Greene, and W. R. Mack. 

From the issue of July 29th. I find the following: "The 'Cedar Rapids' left 
for St. Louis yesterday, and had in tow. a liargi' loaded with 1,138 sacks of oats, 
73fi sacks of wheat, some <'oni and 038 barrels of flour. At Rochester it will take 
on 200 barrels of tloiir. It had besides twenty passengers. It was fre(|uently 
difficult to get under the bridee at Moscow, so a quantity of sand was taken on 
Iward at Cedar Rapids to weigh the steamer down sufficiently to get under the 
bridge, when the weight of the cargo was not sufficient." On October 14th, the 
newspaper again mentioned the steamer having arrived from St. Louis with a 
goiKl cargo, the bulk of which was 45,000 feet of lumber, consigned to 0. 0. 
Stanehfield and Gordon & Enos, the captain further reports low water and 
numerous sand-bars. 

The steamer seems to have run until about the middle of November, when 
she was laid up at St. Louis, and was expe<'ted to have gone into winter trade on 



428 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

the Red river. Dr. S. D. Carpenter and G. W. HoUet having gone to New Or- 
leans to make the arrangements. The newspaper for December speaks of the 
parties having returned unable to book the steamer for the winter trade on the 
Red river, as she was not constructed properly for Southern trade. 

Early in March of the following year the whistle of the "Cedar Rapids'' again 
greeted the denizens of this city, bringing a large cargo of freight, leading again 
on the 14th with 4,300 bushels of grain and sixteen pa-ssengei-s. On this trip was 
one of our honored townsmen, George Human, who had come from Mifflin coimty, 
Pennsylvania, two years previously, and who now w^as on his way to St. Louis to 
buy his first stock of drugs. He returned in about ten days ^\-ith a well selected 
stock, and has been in active business in the same location ever since. The offi- 
cers this year were captain. B. Tay ; clerk. G. W. HoUet, mate, T. G. Isherwood, 
and pilot, Merrit. Mr. Haman speaks in glowing terms of the fine treatment re- 
ceived while on board, of the luxurious staterooms and of the magnificent table 
which was fit for a king. On one of these trips certain machinery was broken at 
Rochester, and it was thought that they had to go afoot to JIuscatine to make 
the repairs before the steamer could proceed further. A village blacksmith by the 
name of Jim Grant, a cousin of the general, after looking over the broken piston 
rods, said in his laconic way, "I'd rather pound away here all summer, than have 
a man walk to ]\Iuscatine and back," and he was a.s good ;i.s his word, for in the 
morning he had the damage repaired and received a good day's wages and three 
cheers from the crew and the passengei-s. 

In the issue of May 5th, the paper mentioned the steamer "Cedar Rapids" 
as departing from this city for Burlington with 9,000 bushels of grain with A. 
W. Lamb as captain. This was the last trip the "Cedar Rapids" made on Cedar 
river water, as by the issue of May 19th the pajier speaks of the "Cedar Rapids" 
sinking another steamer near Burlington. ]\Ir. Isherwood tells me, that the 
steamer which was simk was called the "Canton"' and owned by John Roads of 
Savannah, 111. The accident was due to a mistake of signals. The injured parties 
held the "Cedar Rapids" and a long litigation ensiunl. which wa.s a severe blow 
1o the stockholders, who lost their steamer. The sound of the whistle of the 
"Cedar Rapids" was never heard again, and it closes the chapter as far as steam 
Iniating below the dam is concerned. 

The day of steamboating was about over. A new method of transportation 
was devised, and millions of dollars which had been spent by the state and by the 
nation was now of but little account, and the grants of land which had been made 
in order to improve the navigation of our river, was now changed, and given in 
the extension of railroads. June 15, 1859, is the great gala da.v of Cedar Rapids, 
for it is on this day that the last rail was laid which connected us with Chicago, 
and the far East, and the celebration of this occasion is the most noted that we 
have ever had up to the present time. There were orators fron: the East, from 
the South and from the North, and the news of this celebration was spread broad- 
east over the land and it seemed to have been of such a flowerv kind that it caused 
the waters of the Cedar to flow backwards, and only Elias Doty has ever since 
that time succeeded in piloting a steamboat on the inurlrv waters of the Cedar, 
as far as Rochester. 

As T have stated before, the dam across the Cedar was erected in 1842. al- 
though ^Irs. John F. Ely says the dam was never completed, and her husband 
constantly s]ient large sums of mone.v to keep it uj), and it was not long till quite 
a traffic was going on above the dam as far as Cedar Palls. Early in 1858, T. G. 
Isherwood came from Brownsville. Pennsylvania, the son of a boat builder, and 
he set to work to build the first boat of any size for river traffic. It was built for 
Freeman Smith «S: Co., and nearly all the hnnber was sawed by Snouffer & 
Watrous and came out of Bever Park. It made its trial trip on September 30. 
1858. It was a stem wheeler, single deck, 125 feet long, 125 tons burden, called 



EARLY STEAMBOATING OX THE CEDAR 4:.';) 

the "Export."' From tlie papt-r ol' Octoljcr 7. 1 iiimtc tin- follDwiii^ : "The 
new steamer 'Expoi^' made her trial trip up the river last Friday, having on 
lioard some 70 or 80 of our citizens. She performed well, and all on hoard were 
delighted with the trip. We are hapi)y to kii<»w that the wliole ('(immunity unite 
in awarding the owuei-s. Freeman Smith (S: Co., mueh praise. The list of otlieers 
are as follows: Mjuster. Freeman Smith, Jr.: clerk, S. 1). MeCaulley: etitrineer. 
Tom .Stanley: mate, Tom G. IsherwiMiil." The paper for the next few weeks 
speaks iu glowing terms of the "Export" and what a trade the nu'in'hant.s of this 
city have worked up with the towns along the river. That tlie boat makes the 
distanee by river from Waterloo in fourteen hours and from Vinton, in five hours. 
The Waverly Ri publican, then edited by our townsman. J. 0. Stewart, asks the 
people of Waverly and the surrounding i;ountry to obtain tiieir goods by way of 
Cedar Rai>ids, as the eheajM-st and ((uickest method by which to '_'ct g(H)ds into 
tliat region of the country. 

Mr. Lshenvood speaks of the boat doiny: a i)ig business, both in freight and 
pasisenger traltie, and that on the whole he did a paying business for the short 
time it was in service. On this first trip, was enrolled as a member of the crew, 
George Horridge, a young tinner, who had recently come from the east, ami who 
is now well and favorably known as a banker juid capitalist at Vinton. Marion 
Evans, now mayor of siiid town, tells me of nmning a mile and a half to the 
river to .see this first steamer, and when he sjiw the smoke from the smoke-stack he 
hid behind the hazelbnish thinking of the eruption of Vesuvius. The paper of 
October 21st speaks of a picnic party having chartered the boat and gone up the 
river, and among the names of those well and favorably kno\ra to most of you. 
at least by name, I shall mention a few: George GrcH'ne. Dr. S. D. Car|)cnter. 
Dr. Lyon, J. F. Ely, J. S. Cook, Rev. Durley and ladies. During the winter the 
"Export" was .sold to J. J. Snouft'er and W. D. Watrous. It was remodeled, 
called the "Blackhawk," and on Marcli Kith made its first trip to Waterloo, with 
J. J. Snouft'er as captain and George A. Ohler as chief carjienter. Arriving at 
Vinton, they were unable to get under the bridge, and threatened to destroy it. 
A council of war was held and it was finally decided to elevate one span of the 
bridge about four feet, and Ohler superintended the work. Mr. SnoutVer tells 
me that the biggest business the steamer did was on June l-'ith. when he carried 107 
pjus-sengers at $5.0(t a head for round trip for the Cedar Rjipids celcln-ation, in- 
cluding hoard and lodging. He made in all. twenty-nine trips, and during this 
sea.son, free of all exjienses, netted the owners .$2,000. The "Blackhawk" as 
remodeled, was 110 feet long by 19 feet wide, and had two rows of berths on each 
side, and accommodated 24 pa.s.sengcrs. besides a crew of seven people. It took 
four cords of wood per tri[). The table of distances by river compiled by the 
pilot on the "Blackhawk" is as follows: Palo, 14VL' "lilps; Benton City, 42 miles; 
Vinton, 50 miles: La l'orti>. S2 mil(>s, and Waterloo, 113 miles. It was sold to 
Burley & Durlin, and the owners accepted one-half of the purchase price in land. 
The cash was never paid, and attiichment was gotten out for labor claims and 
the boat was sold for $19.00. It was sold to a preacher, at Western, who threw 
up the deal, and again the boat was sold to X. B. Brown ami John Curliss, the 
entire purchase price being paid in woolen goods. On account of dry sea.son, the 
boat was siMif south and was sold by the owners to the government for .$().000 
during the war, and wa.s used for carr>-ing provisions for the soldiers on thk- 
Tennes.see and Cumberland rivers. At one time .some of the Linn county soldier 
Iwiys -saw the little steamer make its way uj) one of the rivers, and a yell went up 
for the old "Blackhawk." The sight of the steamer brought them nearer home. 

On one of the trips Mr. Snouffcr nuule that sununer. the wife of the fireman, 
who was acting as maid, was taken ill and the captain s«'nt two dm-toi-s who were 
pas.sengers to examine her. After a hurried examination both came up very 
much excited, sljiting that the patient was siitTcrimr from spotted fever and for 



430 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

him to stop the boat that they wanted to get off at all hazards. Mr. Snouffer 
thought perhaps of damages and finaneial loss so he was in no hurry to comply, 
but took the husband and went into the small cabin up next to the smoke-stack to 
investigate for himself. There was the woman in great stress of mind and much 
worried. He took hold of her hand and tried to rub the spots out and sure 
enough it was found that during the night the coloring in the cotton goods had 
colored her arms and the lieadaehe was no doubt due to the stuffy room and 
extremely warm quarters. It is needless to say that for the rest of the trip the 
doctors were made the butt of ridicule by the passengers. 

The "Surprise" freighted between this citj' and Vinton in '63 and the next 
.steamer was known as the "Nettie Munn," being a stern wheeler 70 feet long and 
12 feet wide, and was brought here from Wisconsin by Mr. Passmore in 1866, and 
was blown up at Kelsey's landing the following year. Another steamer was 
built by E. Robins and used as a ferry- boat, and in the wool and lime trade, but 
was never fully equipped, and was sunk many years ago. The "Carrie Wallace" 
was built by W. G. Brock in about 1870 ; was 16x40, a stem wheeler without state 
rooms, and was used mostly to tow barges, excursion steamers, etc., and was 
blown up about 1879-80. The "Kitty Clyde" was run awhile and abandoned. 
John Kozlovsky built the "Rose" in the early days, and after a steamboat ven- 
ture on the river, was minus several thousand dollars, but had gained a heap of 
experience in the meantime. The boiler of the "Rose" was shipped to Solon 
to be placed in the grist miU, and the engine was sent to Spirit Lake, while Cap- 
tain Elias Doty bought the hull for a mere song in 1884. In this "Rose" hull, 
('apt. Doty installed the l)oilers of an abandoned steamer, the "Carrie Wallace," 
and into it he also installed the engine of an old freighter, called "General Weav- 
er." This combination. Doty called the "Climax." A stock company was or- 
ganized with the amount of $1,000 and is the only stock Icnown on record which 
never at any time went below par. Doty put in $600. and his Cedar Rapids 
friends the balance. He says that he was not out any interest as he had the 
money in the bank when he started. He was out only his time, but he didn't 
count that much, a.s he had all the time there was, and a whole lot of fun in the 
bargain. It is true, he lost the principal, but then the captain consoles himself 
with the fact that he might have lost that anyway. The "Climax" was not the 
only boat the "Governor" ran, for a number of years he had a side wheeler called 
the "Khedive" and another boat named after his patron saint of greenback days 
and called the ' ' General Weaver. ' ' After his exploits upon the river the captain, 
like the snail, carried his house with him, and for a number of years, one of the 
hulls of one of liis stranded boats is said to have served him as a photograph 
gallery. 

There had been more or le.ss trouble growing out of the fact that this river 
and the Iowa, which seems to have been known as one stream, were navigable, as 
the people preferred bridges and dams to open river fronts. In an Act of Con- 
gress passed May 6, 1870, the following appears: "That so much of the same 
river as lies north of the town of Wapello be and the same is hereby declared not 
a navigable stream." Another act was passed on the 18th day of August, 1894, 
to the effect that "so much of the same river as lies between the town of Tools- 
borough and Wapello in Louisa countj', Iowa, .sliall not l)e deemed a navigable 
stream, but dams and l>ridges may be constructed across it." Thus it would seem 
that the Iowa and Red Cedar rivei-s for nearly the entire distance in Iowa are 
not navigable so far as Congress has the right and power to enact such laws, which 
of course merely refer to whether or not such streams may be used for other pur- 
poses than navigation. 

After all. the story of steamboating is a history- of a stniggle, which be^an 
under auspicious circumstances, and ended in finaneial failure, but for all that, 
it made a new Cedar Rapids, and we perhaps today, are profiting by the failures 



EARLY STEAMBOATING ON THE CEDAR 4:]1 

of half a i-i'iitury aj;o. for it shows wliat cncrsry and pul)lic spirit its first citizens 
hjid. which loft an impression upon tlic community and upon tlu» state. We 
must bear in mind, that Cedar l{«|>ids had only "J.'HH) people and tlie county less 
than IH.lHMi, when these entcrprisinp men of encr^ry, perseverance and thrift [)ut 
$2ll,0(K) into a hazardous luidertAking, and even pn'seuted passengers and crew 
with coi-iu-r lots on arrival. 

Well miijht the fii-st passenger have sjiid, wlien he stepped off the steanjhoat 
landing, at Third avenue, much like Moore said of Washington a hundred years 
ago, 

"An embryo capital where fancy sees, 
Squares in morasses and obelisks in trees." 

but the oliserving traveler, amid the.se crude surroundings, must have been alive 
to new impri'ssions. for Cedar Rapids wa.s a thrifty place, even then, where the 
new man was a pilot on a boat today, and a banker tomorrow, and although the 
waters of the Cedar henceforth ran ipiietl.v by. unhindered by paddle or screw, 
railroad building claiuu'd the attention of its people, and they became e(iually 
at home on land, as they had been on water. Just the other da.v I a.sked one of 
.vour old settlei-s wliy they could keep up several newspapers in that day, really 
before they had a postoffice. The venerable ex-postimustcr replied with fire in his 
eye, "Why. heavens sakes my man. it took three newspapers to keep up the town." 

I have attempted to give you an idea of steamboating f>n the Red Cedar. I 
have omitted much, and can onl.v sa.v in the words of the old miller, that he sees 
not all the water that goes by his mill. Xeither have I mentioned all the steam- 
boat ventuivs on the beautiful Cedar. 

In this connection it is of interest to note a report made by B. L. Wick to Lew 
W. Anderson, chairman of the River Fnmt Improvement Commission of Cedar 
Ra|)ids, under date of May 8. 1909, which report was later submitted Ui the au- 
thorities at WiUjhington. and an approjiriation made for a survey of the Cedar. 
The .sur\-ey wjus made in 19()ft. and report submitted that it was not fea.sible 
without a Uirge expenditure of money to make the river navigable except for a 
short distance from its mouth. 

Dear Sir: 

I have been requested to state my views on the practicability and the import- 
ance of the navigability of the Cedar river, and will sjiy that for the past ten years 
I have devoted more or less study to this subjct-t from a historic standpoint, and 
will herewith give you my views. I believe that what you want more than any- 
thing else is whether or not the Cedar river has been navigated formerly, whether 
or not the rainfall is the same as it used t<i be. and whether or not there is at 
present a demand for the opening of this river as a water way for transportation 
|)urj)ose3. 

Ilistorieaily speaking, tratlic on the Cedar river was an epo<-h making period 
of this section of the countrj- in the early i)ioneer days, and the prosperity of 
Odar Rjipids and other cities wjus due in a large measure to the river traffic which 
in tho.se days made, at least, this city what it lat<'r became. 

The first notice we have of a white man exploring what is known as the "Red 
Cedar River" was by Col. George Davenport as early as IH.'H when he established 
a trading [tost at Rock Creek. The first steamboating <>n the I)es Moines river 
was about in 1S87, and from this time mi the Des Moines, the Iowa and Red ('edar 
became the inhuid water ways by which grain was exported and freight wius 
bniught uji from the cities on the Mis.sis.sippi river. As early as 18.S9 the legis- 
lature of Iowa territory empowered a company t4> incorjiorate in the amount of 
$"2(X),000.00 to build a slack water canal from the Cedar river to the Mi.ssi.ssippi 
river by way of what is known as "Rock Creek." and while this projtx-t did not 
come to anything, it shows tlwit the people of this early day Ix'lieved in a public 
water way in order t>> come in contact with the towns along the river further up. 



432 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The Red Cedar river is about 248 miles loug aud is comparatively free from 
any rapids as far as Cedar Rapids, and hence was early looked upon as one of 
the most favored rivers for steam boat navigation. The Iowa river, into which 
the Cedar river empties, is about 240 miles in length and is not so favorable for 
navigation. One of the early settlers who first saw the use of this inland water 
way was Robert Ellis, who came to these parts in 1838 and who is still living, and 
who, a.s early as 1846, caused three flat l)oats to be built, each boat being about 
sixty feet in length, sixteen feet in width and only drew three feet of water when 
loaded. On these boats he loaded 4,000 bushels of wheat consigned to certain 
millers at Burlington; at Burlington he luiloaded the wheat and loaded the same 
boats with a cargo of flour which was duly taken to New Orleans. From this 
time on much wheat, corn, bacon, and other articles were shipped from Cedar 
Kapids to Burlington, Keokuk, St. Louis, and other places on the Mississippi. 

It is also true that Mr. Haman, one of the oldest druggists of this city, went to 
.St. Louis for his first stock of drugs and these were brought back by water. 

W. B. Mack, one of the earl,v settlers, and one of the first wholesale grocei"s. 
secured a cargo of salt in Ohio, which was duly freighted to Cedar Rapids and 
caused a decline in the price of this commodity in the amount of .$5.00 a barrel. 

It is known that as early as 1839 keel boats had reached Ivanhoe. and quite a 
trade was carried on at certain seasons of the year. The first Misvsissippi steamer 
which came as far as our cit.v limits was in the mouth of Jiuie, 1846, called "The 
]Maid of Iowa. ' ' when a number of settlers came this way as land seekers and at a 
time when each passenger was offered a lot by the enterprising people of this city. 
During the next ten years many large and many small steamei-s made the Cedar 
river towns as far as Cedar Rapids, and quite a trade had been established be- 
tween St. Louis, Keokuk, Burlington, and other cities. One of the large Mis- 
sissippi steamers of 200 tons burden was "The Uncle Tobey, " which made her 
way up here among the brash and hanging willows in the spring of 1853. having 
on board a large cargo of freight. 

To show how much importance the river was to the eai-ly settlers it might be 
well to state that in the fifties — in about 1857 — a contract was entered into for 
the building of a steamer about 155 feet long, single deck, stern wheel, clinker 
built, to be arranged for freight and pa.ssenger traffic and to draw the least pos- 
sible amount of water. The contract price of this steamer was .$20,000.00, and it 
was launched in June. 1858, and was ])ut into service, arriving at Cedar Rapids 
July 22, having arrived from Pittsbiu'g in three weeks, stopping at all the cities 
along the way; this boat had on board about three hundred tons of freight, drew 
only three feet of M-ater, and had on board nearly one lunidred passengers. This 
was, undoubtedly, the best built passenger and fi'eight boat put on Iowa rivers 
at that time ; during that season this boat made in all twelve trips. On the first 
trip down stream on July 29, of that year, the papere show that she was loaded 
down iind had in tow a barge loaded with 1.138 sacks of oats, 736 sacks of wheat, 
some corn, and nearly 1.000 barrels of flour. On one of the trips in October up 
stream this boat had on board 45,000 feet of luniber; in the following summer 
this boat got into a collision with another steamer on the Mississippi, and on ac- 
count of a lawsuit the boat was tied up by litigation. 

For a number of ,years a profitaljle steamboat business was carried on in the 
spring of the year above the dam t)etween Cedar Rapids, Vinton, Waterloo and 
other places. The early settlers all agree that navigation was possible in those 
days and profitable as well. It was just at tliis time when steamboating became 
certain and settled that the raili'oad entered Cedar Rapids in Jime. 1859, and 
from that time every enterprise which was started was in the line of railway 
extension as well as transportation. 




PARK VIEWS IN CKDAK KAI'IDS 



EARLY STEAMBOATIN'G OX THE CEDAH 4.!:'. 

As to till' rain fall, it sceins that there lias not been mueh difference iMitween 
the rains of sixty years ajro ajid now. I collected the following from the AnnaLs 
of loua. \'oluine 5, pa|?e 401, being the rain fall from 1848 to 185.'). 

In 1848. 26 inches; 1849. 4!) inches; 1850. 4J) inches; 1851. 71 inches; 1852. 
40 inches; 1853, 45 inches: 1854. 23 inches; 18.55. 28 inches. 

Krom this the average rain fall of Iowa, 1 believe, is estimated at about 33 
inches. It would appear from 185S the rain fall was below the average, while 
during the years up to 1858 the niin fall was above the average. From thi' 
newspapers that I have consultetl in regard to the rain fall during the>*' years it 
seemed that there were a gocnl many floods during the summer months so that 
the steamboating wa.s g(K)d until about N'ovember, when the boats were taken 
down .south for winter traffic on the southern rivers. As to the rain fall, I have 
further invi-stigat^'d among the old settlers, and from reports which were kept, 
it seems that there is not very much difference in the rain fall now iuid fifty years 
ago; however, there is this difference, which all agree on. that the channel of the 
river was more narrow and that the river was deeper and free from mud and 
sand, which has now accumulated due to the tilling of the soil. The river banks 
were lined with tree.s which protected the water from the rays of the sun, and the 
sloughs wert^ filled with water all summer on account of the high grass, and the.se 
grasses and sloughs supplied the river with water more so then than now, as 
more of it evaporated on account of the tilling of soil and on account of the cutting 
of the grass than formerly. All the water which fell in those days foiuid its way 
into the river, which is not true after the ground became cidtivated to any extent, 
and it may be true that only one-fourth of the water which falls now finds its 
way into the river. 

Another (|ue.stion may arise "is it practical?" This is a question not easily 
answered. It is certain that it can not be done through private enterprise; if 
it shall succeed at all it must be through state or government aid in part, at 
least. There is no question but what it will be useful, but whether or not the 
expenses would be to<i great to undertake such an enterprise — that remaias a 
debatable question. There is water enough in the river, espwialh' by putting 
in a dam at Moscow and by straightening the channel a little, so tliat there will 
be enough water for the number of months during the year to haul much of our 
heavy freight, and. if necessary, these products could be stored further along the 
river until such a time as it was deemed advisable to sell and dispose of the same. 
Heavy freight requires slow tran.sit and a cheap rate, and such can as well go by 
water as by rail. For this reason it would be possible to ship by water, grain, 
cereals, as well as cattle, and there would be a great saving to the farmers of this 
part of Iowa. 

A consen-ative estimate of freight paid in Cedar Rjipids during the past year 
is no less than .12,500.000.00, all of which is paid to five railroads which have 
connecting lines in this city. It is al.so estimated, and I have been told on gtxxl 
authority, that during October, 190H. the tonnage i-eeeipts in this city were as 
follows for the Rock Island railroad: 

Live stock 4,638,800 pounds 

Coal 14.65!),303 pounds 

Brick 383,!)(VI pounds 

Stone l,603,2tM) pounds 

These are only a few of the larger items and there are a great many more of 
nearly etpial importance with thos*- cited above. There has also been shippe<l 
out in farm and (Uiiry produi-ts for tlie year ending 1!I08 from 

Linn county 1 ,080,218 pounds 

Cedar county 733,708 pounds 

Benton county 451,207 pounds 



434 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

Black Hawk county 1,032,444 pounds 

Buchanan county 1,980,218 pounds 

These are a few of the items from the counties which are tributory to this river. 
For the year 1907 I will mention the yield of a few cereals in counties adjoin- 
ing the Cedar river, to-wit: 

Buchanan county 1,942,750 bushels corn 1,011,000 bushels oats 

Benton county 3,686,100 bushels com 1,842,800 bushels oats 

Linn county 3,851,500 bushels corn 1,166,160 bushels oats 

Johnson county 3,415,170 bushels com 1,231,100 bushels oats 

Cedar county 3,211,230 bushels corn 804,500 bushels oats 

Say nothing of haj', potatoes, barley, wheat, rj'e and other products. 

Such a water course would also offer inducement to manufacturing concerns 
for the manufacture of cereals, etc., which are shipped out in carload lots daily, 
as well as grain which is cleaned here and sent out to other cities. This will give 
you somewhat of an idea, not only of the value and productiveness of Iowa soil, 
but to show the chances of such a water way by which freight products could be 
bandied at a much lower rate than at present, as we have here the same freight 
rate as they have at Council Bluffs, and by this means we would get the Missis- 
sippi rate, which is much less. Such a water way woidd open up the heart of the 
com and oats belt of Iowa and make it possible to get the water rate on large 
shipments of freight. If the government is now urging a water way enterprise, 
surely the Cedar river should not be overlooked, for it is a large body of water, 
with a rich adjoining territory, and by government promotion could be made the 
carrier of all our products which, as above set out, means millions in bushels 
annually. 

It is not likely that the freight shipped into our city would come by water, as 
it is generally of a kind which is wanted quickly, but there is no question but that 
the products of our farmers, and all our mills and factories, would be sent by 
water, on account of cheaper rates to better markets than now. 

It is only when I visited other countries and studied transportation from 
cities in England, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany that I realized the 
small rivers of those countries which have been used for centuries to such an ad- 
vantage for the carriage of freight. For instance, a river of any size is dredged 
to a certain depth at government expense; there is a luiiform depth of a little 
better than three feet of water on nifiny of these rivers, and on these bodies of 
water barges of not less than 1,000 tons pass up and down loaded with freight. 
This means cheaper freight rates than we have and this in consequence makes 
products cheaper to the consumer and higher for the producer. Canada, during 
the past few years, has spent millions of dollars on its rivers and canals, and it 
is money wisely spent ; while we have spent little or nothing in any effort to help 
the people in the promotion of water ways, which will be the real source of com- 
petition in freight rates in the future. 

I fully believe that the survey of the Cedar should be made, and I believe that 
if such a survey is made that this stream will be declared navigable, and that the 
state or nation will step in in order to make definite plans for fi.nanciug this great 
enterprise for the carrying on of freight steamers, carrying cargoes as far as the 
Mississippi, and I believe that enough tariff exists now to warrant such an enter- 
]irise. The Cedar river is an important factor now for the purpose of furnishing 
power, and should also become a factor in transportation as well. This would 
be the case pro^-ided the river would be improved as demanded, which would re- 
sult in re-establishing heavj- freight traffic by water instead of as now wholly 
by rail. 



CHAPTER XLI 

Banks and Banking in Linn County 

The histnrj' of bankingr iu Codar H<iiiids ami Linn connty may appropriat<>Iy 
be divided into three periods, designated respectively, Frontier Banking, Countrj' 
Banking, and City Banking, each possessing characteristics peculiar to itself and 
expressive of its time. 

Frontier Banking was coincident with the beginning of business in Iowa, and 
continuing, covered the pioneer days, prior to the coining of the railroad, and its 
storj- is most interestingly told in his own words by Dr. S. D. Carpenter, whose 
youthful activities were a part of that early life, and who, in his eightieth year, 
writes as follows: 

"Something over fifty years ago. as I recall the circumstance, I was greatly- 
elated when tlie local printer at Cedar Rapids produced a card on which was 
imprinted 'Carpenter, Lehman & Co., Bankers.' At an earlier period of my life. 
I had read Esop's Fabhs, but if I had, the story of the Ass who paraded in the 
Lion's skin did not seem applicable, and I mingled boldly with my companions, 
who, with equal effrontery, wore the same apparel. The 'protoplasm' from which 
the bankers of that day evoluted was plentiful and the environment all that could 
be desired. In a teelmical sense, it is quite true, there was no necessity for a bank 
and no business for a banker; there being no commerce, there were no bills to 
discount; but nevertheless, we established banks and became bankers. This was 
possiltle, because we had squatted down in the midst of millions of acres of a very 
fertile soil, in a genial and healthy climate. The product of land could not be 
exported, but a large immigration was pouring into the country, hungry for land 
and sufficiently numerous to consume all the surplus products. Land was the 
basis of all the live business, and the land agent and real estate dealer evoluted 
naturally into a banker. Land warrants took the place of commodities, dealers 
in the east collected them, and sent them to their agents in the west, who sold 
them at a large advance to the immigrants for whom they entered the land. The 
western real estate dealer ordinarily did not have capital enough to buy the land 
warrant, but handled it on a commis-sion for his eastern correspondent until 
such time as he could accumulate from liis profits sufficient ca-sh to buy it outright 
The price of the land warrant as purchased from the party to whom issued, was 
less than one dollar per acre, and was always sold to the buyer who used it at 
^}.25 per acre, that is a profit of at least 25 cents per acre, and with the continual 
increase of immigrants the business became of great volume and was correspond- 
ingly remunerative. Often the purchaser wanted more land than he had cash to 
|)ay for; then the real estate man sold the warrant at the rate of ,$1.2;'i per acre, 
took the pureha.ser's note for the balance at three per cent per month interest 
and held all the land as set-urity. At this point, the real estate man be<'ame a 
banker. The first real estate firm in Cedar Rapids was tbat of Weare, Finch & 
Co., consisting of John Weare, Jr., Daniel O. Finch, and George Greene. They 
began business either in 1850 or 1851. I was offered a one- fourth interest in 
the syndicate for .$500.00 and would gladly have taken it, but was imable to raise 
the requisite capital. Although luiable to brt^ak into the crib, like many others, 
I hung around and was able now and then to grab an ear from the overflow. In 
other words, I became a customer of the bank. Being in the practise of m«'dieine, 



436 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

1 became fauiiliar with all the surrouiidiug uuiintiy. When I diseovered a ehoiee 
location as regarded timber, water, etc., I went to the bank, bought a land warrant 
at $1.25 per acre, gave my note at three per cent per month, with a cast iron 
mortgage, and took my chances in the hope of selling at an advance before the 
maturity of the note. I was so successful in these ventures that I soon abandoned 
my profession and devoted my whole time to real estate. The real estate oper- 
ator took advantage of the fact that uiany of the immigrants brought money 
with them, which it required time to invest. They had to look up locations to 
enter or to examine tracts which they desired to buy at second hand. j\rean- 
time, they did not wish to carry their money about with them and therefore they 
deposited it in the bank. The trade of the local merchants also increased, and 
they gradually became customers, and from these sources came the deposits. 
The volume of exchange was small, but the bank added something to its income 
liy acting as agent for the payment of taxes for non-residents. The firm of 
\Veare, Finch & Co. soon merged into that of Greene & Weare, D. O. Finch 
removing to Des Moines to establish a branch of the same house. Greene & Weare 
did not long enjoy a monopoly at Cedar Rapids. B. S. Bryan, who had been a 
clerk in their house, and had become familiar with the business, with a brother- 
in-law named Ward, from New Jersey, opened a rival establishment under the 
name of Ward & Bryan, some time in 1852 or '53. At that time, the immigration 
was so large that both estalilishments had all the business they could managel 
with their limited capital. It is not probable that either concern was very con- 
servative, but the newer firm had but little capital, and the members branched 
out in the way of building new residences for themselves, and Bryan went so far 
as to buy a top buggy and a fine horse. This was going beyond the limit; the 
pioneer whose aspirations in the way of a pleasure carriage did not extend beyond 
a two horse wagon, became suspicious. Some renewals of paper in Iowa City 
and Davenport were refused them, and they had to close their doors. Then 
ensued a mild financial earthquake, which did not affect the town itself, because 
no one in the town, except the merchants, had any money on deposit, and they but 
little, but the sufferers were those who had put their money in the bank prepara- 
tory to buying land, and the bankers of whom they had bought land warrants on 
credit. Wm. Greene and myself, were appointed receivers. The a.ssets amoiuited 
to about $35,000.00 and the indebtedness to something more. It took a year or 
two to close up the business and there was not a very great loss to any one. 

' ' The to\ni had scarcely quieted down from this excitement before it was struck 
by another financial cyclone of an entirely different character. We had a mail 
three times a week from Dubuque to Iowa City,' the service being performed by 
four horse Concord coaches; it was before the day of the express companies. 
All money and other valuable packages came by mail. One day about 9 o'clock 
in the morning, the postmaster from j\Iarion dashed into town at full .speed, 
bringing the alarming intelligence that a mail pouch had been stolen from the 
coach in JMarion, which had been found cut open and rified and then concealed 
in some shavings back of a carpenter shop, near the hotel where the stage stopped 
to change horses and allow the passengers to breakfast. In the sack and near 
it, concealed in the shavings, were letters, and a package of land warrants, 
amounting to several thousand dollars. What was missing was not known. The 
land warrants were addressed to Greene & Weare. A crowd gathered about the 
bank and it soon became luiown that a money package had been in the pouch, 
but the amoimt was uot given. Soon the report spread about that the bank had 
lost five, ten, or twenty thousand dollars, the sum varying according to the guess- 
ing power of the relator. Immediately John Weare and Wm. Greene started 
post ha.ste to Marion, where they found a high state of excitement. The town had 
resolved it.self into a committee of 'Sherlock Holmeses, ' all devoting themselves 
to detective business. As a starting j^oint, they were told that the money con- 




IN AND AROUND MT. VKKNON 



BANKS AND liANKlN(J IX I.INN COUNTY 437 

fiistt'd of baak uotes, issuod by tlu' Hank of Elgin, lllinoi.s. Suspiciun sodu pointed 
to a disreputable blaeksinith. livinR in a small frame house nearby. The stage 
had arrived at the hotel just before dayli^jhl. first driving to the postoffiee, where 
the driver thought he had thrown all the sacks from the boot, b\it the small one 
had eseajX'd liis notice. The stage stiM)d in front of the hotel antl the horses were 
taken to the stable and fresh ones brought to supply their places. While this 
was being done and the passengers being at their breakfast, the stage was (piite 
de.sert<>d. and it was then, it still being dark, that the thief got in his work. Tlie 
stage proi'wded on its way. and it wsus not till the earpent^'r shop, which .stood 
.just across the street from the hotel, was opened up for work, that a workman dis- 
covered the papi'rs scattered about and finally the pouch itself. The alarm wa.s at 
once given and the |)ostma.st<'r. as stated. I'arried the news to Cedar Rapids. It 
was not known that money had been stolen till .Mr. Weare and Mr. Greene arrived. 
Soon after their arrival it became known that the blacksmith, ipiitc early in the 
day, had been to the town grocery and much to the surprise of the griH,-er, paid u]) 
a standing aecouut, and bought .several dollars' worth of go<ids, for which he paid 
cash, with bills of the Bank of Elgin. These bills had not been in general circu- 
lation, and the grocer was making incpiiries about them, which at once fixed sus. 
pii-ion on the blacksmith, who was immediately arrested and a guard placed al)out 
his house. lie wa.s searched, but nothing of an incriminating nature found, 
'i'lic house was then thoroughly gone over, and a five dollar bill of the Hank of 
Elgin foiuid in the erack in the wall l)ehind a KM)king glass. The man de<;lared 
his innocence, and the woman said she knew nothing altout the discovered bill. 
They had three children, a boy about thirteen, another eigiit. and a younger girl. 
In explanation of the bills paid the grocer, he said a man from Illinois, where he 
had formerly lived, liad passed through the towTi the day Itefore, and had paid him 
a bill of long standing in the bank notes that he had given the grocer. This 
stor>- they stuck to. through all sorts of cross e.Kamination. Another diligent 
search of the house ami atl.iacent premises was made, but nothing found. People 
living in the house nearest them, said that before daylight they had heard them 
up, and saw a light in the house, which was an luiusual ciivumstance. The 
eldest boy. however, explained that he was rai.sing a pet pig by hand, and that he 
was up .so early IxH-ause his pig was himgry and he had to feed it. Things went 
on in this manner till nearly night, when a new clew was struck. A woman liv- 
ing at the outskirt.s of the \'illage hatl .seen the eldest boy pass her house about eight 
or nine o'clock in the morning, carrying a sack, which apparently had something 
in it No one had, however, seen him leave or rt»turn to his father's house, and 
he was there when the arrest was made, but the time that he was seen corresponded 
to about the time the grwer was iK'ing examined about the bills, and the detec- 
tives con<-lud<'<l that the blacksmith had his eyes open and surmised that they 
were getting warm on the trail, and had then sent out the boy with the money in 
the sack. The boy stoutly denied that ho had left the hous<' and that the woman 
was mistaken. So the niatter rested for the first night. The next morning two 
other i)ei-sons were found who had seen the hoy and the sack at the time men- 
tioned. Then the boy being hard pre.s.sed eonfe.ss«'d that his mother had .sent 
him out to a neighboring farm t4> get meal, but not finding any he had left the 
sack. Mr. (ireene took the boy to the farm, but the people said he had not he«'n 
there. Then be w;is brought back aiui again cro>vs examined. He told numen)Us 
and conflicting stories, which I have forgotten, but succe<>ded in bafHing the 
•leteetives the whole day. In the afternoon. Mr. Weare wrote me from Marion 
a very despairing note, saying that they were perfectly sure that the blacksmith 
wa« the thief, but that there was no clue to the money, which was the main, 
thing, and suggesting that 1 bring three or four di-termined men and join him, 
and try by intimidation, whether it wiis not possible to frighten him into giving 
it up. 1 acted ui)on bis advice and joined him in Marion about nightfall. 



438 HISTOKY OF LINN COUNTY 

"I found him at the house of his mother-in-law in company with a couple of 
dozen of the amateur detectives. They were awaiting the return of Wm. Greene, 
whom the boy was leading another wild goose chase. It was the consensus of 
opinion that if the last effort with the boy failed, the crowd should take the old 
man from the jail and threaten to IjTich him. This might possibly make him con- 
fess. I felt perfectly sure that the boy had taken the money in the sack and 
concealed it and argued that it would be more easy to intimidate him than his 
father, who seemed to be hardened and determined. Objection was made on 
account of his age, and on the score of cruelty, but they finally agreed that 1 
might make a trial on the boy, and that in case of failure, they would deal with 
the old man. Pending the discussion, William Greene and the boy drove up in 
a buggy. The boy had added another to his many lies about the disposition of 
the sack. He was a sturdy chap of thirteen, and under the embarrassing circum- 
stances seemed pretty cool. "When they got out of the buggj' William Greene 
made a final appeal to him. 'My boy,' he said, 'you have been lying to us all 
day as you well know, but I will make a last offer to you. If you will tell where 
you have hidden the money, I will give you $200.00 and you shall not be hurt, 
or anything done to you, but if you don't, I will turn you over to these men, and 
I don't know what they will do to you.' The boy said, 'that as true as there 
was a God in heaven, he didn't know anything about the money, and could tell 
nothing.' Then I took up the role; I seized him by the throat and threw him 
pretty heavily to the ground, and called for a rope ; the crowd had a rope prepared 
for the old man, which was immediately put about his neck; then I raised him up 
and told them to throw the rope over the limb of a tree under which we wereJ 
standing. They did so and drew it taut, and I said, 'now you Ijing young rascal, 
we are going to hang you instantly, and if you have anything to say, this is your 
last chance.' The suddenness of the attack, and the jar he received in falling 
sort of dazed him; at all events he cried out, 'don't hang me and I v,i.\\ tell.' 
He at once confessed that he had the money in the sack, and had buried it in a 
clump of bushes within three himdred yards of where we were. I led him by 
the rope, followed by the crowd, and in a few minutes a couple of the men un- 
earthed the sack. We then returned to the house, the money was counted and 
only a few hundred dollars was missing from the original $6,000.00 which the 
package contained. The boy in the meantime had regained his courage, and on 
being asked to explain who gave him the money, said that while going with the 
sack for the meal early in the morning of the robbery, he had met two men, who 
gave him the money and told him to bury it and they would call in a few days 
and pay him $200.00 for his trouble, and that his father had nothing to do with 
it, and knew nothing about it. Asked to describe the men, he looked at the crowd 
and gave a very accurate description of myself and John Weare, who stood be- 
side me. The bystanders appreciated the joke, and inquired whether Weare 
and I were not the men. He gave us another look and said he was not quite? 
certain, but they were men who looked mightily like us, if we were not the verj' 
men. 

"The old man was kept in jail but the boy was left with his mother. In a 
few weeks the prisoner escaped, the boy having wnth an axe one night dug a, 
hole in the wall of the jail. He and his father were heard of no more, and were 
never brought to justice. I have always had a sneaking sort of an admiration for 
that boy and feel certain that he must have reached distinction in some way 
or another. 

"The above episode took place, if my memory is not at fault, about 1854-5, 
and at that time and on till 1857, the real estate dealers and bankers throve 
apace. Personally I had arrived at a position that I thought entitled me to be- 
come a financier, and in company with L. H. Lehman, of Woostcr. Ohio, and E. C. 
Kjeider, of Lancaster, Ohio, we opened our doors and proclaimed ourselves bank- 



BANKS AND BANiaNG IN LINN COUNTY 439 

ers under the firm name of Carpenter, Lehman & Co. Soon afterwards another 
bank was started, the firm name i>f which 1 have forgotten, but of it Henry Wood, 
an early settler of the town, was a nu'inl)er. Tluis Cedar Rapids, witli a popu- 
lation of less than 2,tKK), could lioiust of three banks. Meantime Greene & Weare 
grew apace, and besides the home iu.stitutiou, within a few years they estalilislied 
brandies in Ues Moines, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Ft. Dodge, Sioux City, and it 
may be at other places, and in almost every county seat that I cau think of there 
were two or three banks. Cook & Sargeant, of Davenport, were the I'ierpont 
Morgans of the day, and had even more branches than Clreene & "Weare. 

"I cannot rememlx-r that there were any banks of issue in Iowa, nor do 1 
know what the banking laws of Iowa were at that time, but if there were any, 
they were not so favorable as those of the territory of Nebraska. Cook & Sar- 
geant, 1 believe, were the discoverers of the new field, and organized a bank at an 
obscure town in that territory named Florence, and very soon currency of the 
Bank of Florence was in active circulation; to keep abreast of the times, Greene 
& Weare started a bank at Fontanolle, a still more obscure place in the territory, 
and bills of the Bank of Fontanelle were greatly in evidence. I do not remember 
what provisions were made for the redemption of the notes, but imagine that the 
holders had a pretty tedious journey to get to the places of issue. They how- 
ever did duty as money, made times good, and stimulated speculation. When the 
land ofKce was opened at Fort Dodge, I made a trip to that place with John 
Weare, Jr., who went, I think, to establish a branch there. The .journey consumed 
several days, and on arriving we found all the buildings that had formerly been 
occupied by the soldiers filled to overflowing with land seekers and bankers. Not 
only were the old buildings full, but many were in hastily built cabins, and even 
in tents. There were seven banks in full operation; one in a tent which served 
as a background for a large sign, announcing that ten per cent would be paid' 
on current deposits. John Garaghty, of Lancaster, Ohio, an old friend of mine, 
had his bank in one of the recently built cabins. I found him on the Hoor of the 
bank, diligently sewing at a bed tick, which was to garnish a bunk in one comer 
where he slept. He seemed cheerful, but animadverted severely' on his competitor 
in the tent, whom he said was taking a ras^-ally advantage in offering ten per 
cent interest. Things went on swimmingly for a couple of years. Immigration 
was large, lands advanced rapidly in price, with plenty of buyers; to make money 
one only had to buy real estate, so we all cheerfully used all our cash and credit 
in that line. 

"Without much warning, so far aa I can remember, the hard times of 1857 
struck us, as the stringency extended over the whole countrv". Our supplies were 
suddenly cut off. We that were wearing the 'Lion's skin' began to bray, and to 
take to the tall timber. Our firm fortunately had not gotten entirely beyond ita 
depth, but it was in well up to the chin. By strenuous efforts we managed to pay 
our depositors and then divided our lands, and went out of business, as did the 
other concern which had started in about the time we did. Grwne & Weare were 
left alone in the field, but their diflficulties were great, and the firm was 8<x)n 
dis.solvd by the withdrawal of John Wean', Jr., whose place was taken by Wm. 
Merritt. and the name changed to Greene, Merritt & Co. That financial cyclone 
I should say wiped out at least one-half of the bankers of Iowa, and had they been 
asked why they failed, they co\ild have answeri'<l in the laconic terms of John 
Thompson, the bank note n^porter, to a similar question, 'for want of money.' 

"For a couple of years thereafter I devoted my whole time to real estate, 
trying to get rid of my holdings, which wen' more than I could comfortably 
carrj-. In IS.'i!). or thereabouts, having gotten my affairs into better shape. I 
again embarked in the banking business, havinir for partners Jolin Weare, Jr., 
and Henry B. Stibl)s. both of whom had l)een with the firm of (ireene & Wehre, 
the former as a partner, the bitter as cashier. The firm name was Carpenter, 



440 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

.Stibbs & Co. Banking had then beeoiue more legitiiiiatc. The railroad had been 
completed to Cedar Kapids. Commission houses had been established. Grain, 
hogs, and cattle were shipped in carloads, which furnished bills for discount ; 
merchants were on a firmer basis and did a larger business, and tlie deposits were 
of considerable volume: real estate and tax paying still had a ])lace. but were in- 
considerable. 

"Things in a commercial way went on pretty smoothly till the lireaking out 
of the Civil war. At that time our currency consisted principally of bank notes 
from Wisconsin and Illinois, which were based mostly upon state and other bonds 
held by the banks which issued the notes. As these securities fluctuated so did 
the value of the notes. Those who held them wanted to deposit in the l)anks, and 
when a customer canu' in. the banker had to refer to Thompson's Bank Note 
Reporter to ascertain their value, and even when so determined, the risk of tlie 
banker was great, because of their liability' to depreciate. I remember going to 
St. Louis, shortly after the war began to withdraw our account from a bank there, 
and I had to pay 13 per cent for a gold draft. Still we managed to worry along 
and I do not remember that many failures occurred. When the war broke out. 
Cedar Rapids raised a comjiany for the first regiment, and as the state had no 
money, our l)ank furnished the funds to eiiuip, maintain, and transport the 
company to Keokuk, where it was mustered into the service. From that time 
till I entered the army early in 1862, I had little to do with the bank. I was 
chairman of a committee of thirteen whose duty it was to encourage enlistments 
and the formation of companies for the .service, and by subscription to raise money 
for bounties, till finally I went m.vsclf and was not mustered out till August, 1865. 

"From the time I left for the war, I had nothing to do actively with the bank- 
ing business and have never since been behind a banking counter in an official 
capacity. What little knowledge I have of the early banking in Iowa. I gained 
there, but as Cedar Rapids was a typical town. I imagine that the banking done 
there was very' similar to that done in all the other towns of the state. 

"After a lapse of fort.v-fovu" years, one's memory is not reliable and you must 
therefore make liberal allowance for errors in date as well as other things. In 
^^Titing 1 regret the want of old papei"s and other data, but have done the best 
I could under the circumstances. 

' ' Truly yours, 

"Sey.vioik I). Caupe.n'tek.'' 

The first constitution t>f Iowa made the following reference to banks : 

"The General Assembly shall i)rovide for the organization of all other corpor- 
ations, except those with Banking privileges, the creation of which is prohibited." 

For this reason early banking was conducted a.s a jiurely ])rivate enterprise, or 
as a branch of some bank incorporated in another state. 

Prior to the adoption of the second constitution in 1857, it became evident 
that the state was veiy much in need of a more stable banking system, so pro- 
vision was made for incorporated banks, when approved by vote of the people and 
for "The State Bank of Iowa," which was incorporated July 29. 1858. with ]iower 
to establish branches and issue circulating notes. Elihu Baker, a Cedar Rapids 
banker, was the first secretary of the State Bank, and in time fifteen brandies were 
fstablislied at different points in the state. 

Although none was located here, our business interests received substantial 
benefit from the improved financial conditions that resulted from a safe system 
aTul a sound currency. 

With the coming of the railroad in 1859. Cedar Rapids entered the field of 
commerce and forever put an end. not only to frontier banking, but to one of the 
most wonderfull.v heroic, and, in sonu' respects, beautiful scenes of its human 
history — the pioneer life. 





U. I). STEPHENS 



ADDISON DANIELS 





.1. B. YOUNG 



1. M. I'kESTON 



BANKS AND HANKING IN LINN COUNTY +41 

Coiuitry l)aukin>; as couiluck'd today , is less iTutk'. mure scientific, aud safer 
tliaii in tlic time of which we write, but a fuiidainciit^d condition that has always 
made it a public necessity remains the same, namel.v. a local community cnjrasred 
in the activities of development, production, ami commerce. 

It poe.s without saying that the banking nei-ds of Cedar liapids as a railroad 
town were greater than ever before anil several apj)lications were made for jier- 
inission to establish a branch of the State Bank, none of which, however, wa.s 
.successful. 

This wortliy institution itself proved to be short-lived, for the need that 
brought it into existence was broader than Iowa and scmui crystallized into the 
National Hank Act, which was adopted by the Federal Congress in 1863, and 
which proviiled for a National Bmik currency and etVectually put an end to all 
other bank note issues, luid the State Hank of Iowa, having fulHllc<l its mission, 
redeemed its notes mid all other liabilities, and ceased to exist. 

Although the national system met with much opposition on the part of the 
larger state banks of New York and elsewhere, and had to overcome pre,iudicc 
in the minds of many |ieoi)le throughmit the countrv. its positive improvement on 
the old order of things was ((uickly apparent to Cedar Rapids bankers, resulting 
in thi> estalilisliment of two National banks in 18G4, and the race for charters 
illustrates a degree of alertness iuid ctimi)etition in those days that would do credit 
to the chief of present day hustlers, and verified the old proverb, "the first shall 
he last." for the First National Hank, with a capital of $.jt),(HJ<J.()0, received 
charter No. 500 on August 23d. while the City National Bank, with a capital of 
$100,000.00, received charter .No. 483 on July Iflth of that year and was the 
first to open its doors for business. During the following year, the First National 
Bank increased its capital to .^lOO.OOO.lM). Published reports, about the end of 
the year 1865, show total deposits in both banks of nearly $150,(MM>.00. and the 
full limit of (mtstanding bank notes $90,000.00 each, thus promptly and amply 
providing banking facilities for the rapid development that followed the close 
of the Civil war. 

City banking within the memory- of our older bankers was practically con- 
fined to the eiust and to a very few of the larger cities of the country, aud its 
development in Cedar Rapids aixl other cities of her class illustrates the evo- 
lution of banking methods and evitlcnces the remarkable financial growth of Iowa 
and the wi>st. In ivsi)onse to the growing nwds of .jobbing and manufacturing 
lines, which were then in their infancy, the Merchants National Hank was organ- 
ized in 1881 by R. D. Stephens. He was an exceptionally able banker, and his 
untimely death in 1883 deprived the community of a strong force. 

With the organization of the Cedar Rai)ids Naticmal Hank, which sueeeedetl 
the private banking business of (J. F. Van Ve<'hten in 1887. there was inaugurated 
a systematic effort to encourage and build up a business with country Imnks 
within this territor.\'. Such deposits were carried in moderate amoiuits before 
this, but wen- handled more as a matter of nccessjiry collections on account of 
the shipments of live 8to<>k and grain to this center than as a permanent and 
profitaWe branch of banking. It became e\-ident at this time that the rapid 
<ievelopment of the state and of wholesale and manufacturing lnisines.ses at this 
point was bringing Cedar R^ipids into closer business relations with many other 
towns, that currency and credit could be handled here with c<|ual sjifety and with 
greater profit and convenience tluiu in the distant east, and with (M.pnlation and 
wage earners increasing, the .savings banks a.ssumed their most important place. 
and thus it came about that city banking, like country banking, wius the outgrowth 
of our mutual business n'(|uin'ments and advantages. Its natural development led 
to the organization i>f the Cedar Rapids Clearing IIous.' As.soeiation in l!>(t*2, the 
designation by government authority of ( 'edar Ra])ids as a reserve city for deposits 
of other national banks in l!tll3. and t4> the existence of ten active banks today. 



442 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



holding total deposits of over sixteen million dollars, and completes a record of 
banking safety that has paid its depositors in full throughout its history. 
List of Cedar Kapids banks in the order in which they began business : 

No. Name 

1 Greene & Weare 

2 Ward, Bryan & Co. 

3 Carpenter, Lehman & Co. 

4 Dodge, Carr & Co. 

5 Elihu Baker & Co. 

6 Greene, Merritt & Co. 

7 Carpenter, Stibbs & Co. 

8 S. C. Bever & Son 

9 City National Bank 

10 First National Bank 

11 Union Savings Bank 

12 G. F. Van Vechten Private Bank, 

13 Merchants National Bank 

14 Cedar Rapids Savings Bank 

15 0. N. Hull's Real Estate Bank 

16 Cedar Rapids National Bank 

17 Security Savings Bank 

18 Bohemian-American State Bank 

ilowa Savings Bank 
changed name to 
Bohemian-American Savings Bank 

20 Citizens National Bank 

21 American Trust and Savings Bank 

22 Cedar Rapids Loan and Trust Co. 

23 Peoples Savings Bank 

24 Fidelity Trust and Savings Bank 

25 Commercial Savings Bank 

26 Iowa State Savings Bank 

27 Commercial National Bank 

28 First Trust & Savings Bank 



Opened 


Liquidated 


1852 


1858 


1853 


1856 


1856 


1857 


1856 


1857 


1857 


1860 


1858 


1862 


1859 


1869 


1862 


1864 


Julv 19, 1864 


18!i8 


August 28, 1864 


1886 


Februray, 1870 


1879 


February 1, 1877 


1887 


March, 1881 




Jlav 15, 1883 




August 12, 1884 


1890 


February 28, 1887 




April 26. 1889 




June 13, 1892 


1894 


May 1, 1893 ) 




> 


1898 


September 1, 1894) 




March, 1898 


1908 


April 5, 1898 




February 1, 1900 


1904 


May, 1903 




June 1, 1904 


1907 


December 14, 1905 




Julv 1, 1906 




July 7, 1908 




August 4, 1910 





THE CEDAR RAPIDS CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION 

The Cedar Rapids Clearing House Association was organized largely through 
the efforts of R. T. Forbes, at that time cashier of the Citizens National Bank, 
and J. M. Dinwiddle, ca.shier of the Cedar Rapids Savings Bank. During the 
summer of 1902, Jlr. Forbes and Mr. Dinwiddle agitated the matter and in Oct- 
ober of that year, as the result of their efforts, a committee of Cedar Rapids 
bankers, consisting of John T. Hamilton, J. IM. Dinwiddle, Ralph Van Vechten, 
James E. Hamilton, J. W. Bowdish, Lawson Daniels, E. W. Virden, E. M. Scott, 
Ed. H. Smith, E. E. Pinney, and R. T. Forbes, visited Davenport and investigated 
the workings of the clearing house association of that city. 

Following that visit to Davenport, a meeting of the representatives of the 
banks of the city was held on November 3, 1902. at which meeting it was formally 
resolved to form a local association. A constitution and by-laws were adopted 
on November 6, 1902, and the clearing house was regularly organized, with the 
following banks as members: Merchants National, Cedar Rapids National, Cit- 
izens National, Cedar Rapids Savings, Security Savings, American Trust and 
Savings, People's Savings. The first officers, elected December 3. 1902, were: 
President, J. M. Dinwiddle; first vice-president, E. M. Scott; second vice-pres- 



BANKS AND BANKING IN LINN COUNTY 443 

ident, Ed. II. Smith; treasurer, E. W. Virden; secretary and manager, R. T. 
Forbes. 

After formal organization the clearing house lay dormant for several month.s 
and it was not until January 4, 1904, that the association actually began the work 
of daily clearings. The clearings for the first day amounted to a total of 
$127,0(K). The average per week for the first year was about $400,000. That 
the banking business of Cedar Rapids has grown with giant strides the past five 
years is evidenced by the fact that the clearings are now running well over one 
million dollars per week and are showing an average gain of 40 per cent over the 
corresi)onding weeks of last year. The week ending June 5, 1!)09, showed the 
remarkable increase of 130 per cent over the same week of 1908. 

At the time of organization the banks of Cedar Rapids had a combined capital 
of $630,000, surplus and undivided profits of $400,000, and deposits of 
$7,800,000. At the present time they have a combined capital of $900,000, sur- 
plus and undivided profits of over $800,000, and deposits of $16,000,000. Since 
the organization of the clearing house the deposits of country banks has increased 
from $2,(XI0,0(>0 to more than $6,000,000, savings and time deposits from $4,200,- 
000 to $7,200,000, and individual demand deposits from $1,200,000 to $2,200,000. 
Such a showing of growth and prosperity is an absolute index of local conditions 
and speaks more eloquently than words of the substantial manner in which this 
city is forging ahead in things financial. 

J. M. Dinwiddic served as president until Decemlx'r, 1906, being succeeded 
by E. M. Scott, who served until December, 1908. Mr. Scott was succeeded by 
J. W. Bowdish, who resigned in March of this year, being succeeded by Kent C. 
Ferman. R. T. Forbes sened as secretarj' and manager until December, 1906. 
He was succeeded by Charles Fletcher, Jr., who held the office until July, 1908, 
when he was succeeded by W. J. Elliott. E. "W. Virden, the first treasurer, was 
succeeded by John Burianek, Jr., who served until December, 1907. when he was 
followed by Louis Wokoun. The present officers are: President, Kent C. Fer- 
man ; first vice-president, James E. Hamilton ; second vice-president, John Bur- 
ianek. Jr. ; treasurer, Louis Wokoun ; secretary and manager, W. J. Elliott. 

The present membership compri.ses all the banks of the city, as follows : Mer- 
chants National. Cedar Rapids National, Commercial National. Cedar Rapids 
Savings. Security Savings, American Trust and Savings, People's Savings, Iowa 
State Sanngs, Commercial Savings. The clearing house asstx-iation rooms are 
under the Merchants National Bank, and here representatives from each bank 
in the city meet at eleven o'clock each day to exchange checks, or "clear" the 
day's business. 

The Commercial Savings Bank was organized December 1.3, 190.5. with a 
capital .stwk of $50.0(X). It.s officers were C. H. Chandler, president: W. C. 
LaTourette, vice-president; James L. liever, Jr.. cashier; with C. II. Chandler, 
James L. Bever. Sr.. "\V. C. LaTourette, H. Cushman, John B. Bever. C. B. Rob- 
bins, p]. J. Carey. A. JefTrey, and C. Denecke. directors. The bank has enjoyed 
due pros|)erity. There have been some changes in its officers. C. H. Chandler 
continuing as its president to this date. C. B. Bobbins and E. J. Carey are the 
present vice-presidents, and Ed. B. Zlianek, its cashier. 

The Iowa State Savings Bank opened for business January 6, 1906, at the 
corner of Tenth avenue anil Third street. The capital stock was $50,000. It is 
known as the "South End Bank," and was organized for the especial accommo- 
dation of business men and individuals in the southern portion of the city. The 
first officers were: A. Tomec. president; V. O. Ila.sek. vice-president; and Joseph 
Lesinger, cashier. The present officers are : V. O. Ila.sek. president ; J. J. Cerveny, 
vice-president, and Jowpli Lesinger. cashier. Present capital stock $50,000; sur- 
plus, $5,000; total resources, $52;').(KMI; deposits, ,$7lH),(.XX). 



444 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The People's Savings Bauk wda organized :Mareh 10, VM), with T. McCarthy, 
president; H. E. Witwer and J. J. Powell, vice-presidents; E. W. Virden, cashier; 
and T. ^McCarthy. H. E. Witwer, J. J. Powell, John yi. Redmond, AVni. King, 
George H. Boyson. A. H. Wolf, Theodore Stark, and Fred H. Shaver, directors. 

A. H. Wolf and George li. lioyson, having disposed of their interests in 1903, 
at the annual election held January, 1904. C. L. ]\Iiller and George G. Grupe were 
elected in their places. 

T. McCarthy, on account of his health, did not desire a re-election ,a.s president, 
and E. W. Virden. having accepted a position in Louisiana, caused a vacancy in 
the presidency and cashiership. At that meeting the following officers wer(^ 
elec-ted : II. E. Witwer, president, J. J. Powell and Fred H. Shaver, ^•ice-pre.si- 
dents; and Jolui Burianek, Jr., cashier. On January 9, 1906, at tlie annual meet- 
ing, JMr. Redmond being unable to serve as a director, did not desire re-election 
jind in his place John Burianek, Jr.. was chosen. On the death of J. J. Powell 
in 1908. Wm. King was chosen one of the vice-presidents. The directors now 
are H. E. Witwer. T. .McCarthy, P. II. Shaver, G. G. Grupe. Win. King, C. E. 
Tuttle, PL S. Seeley. John Burianek, Jr. 

Originally this bank had 88 stockholders, the number now being 53. It has a 
surplus of $25,000, undivided profits of $10,000, and deposits of nearly $900,000. 

Early in 1911 the bank will occup.v its new building on the corner of First 
street and Third avenue west, one of the handsomest in the state. 

The Cedar Rapids National Bank was incorporated February 28, 1887, and 
succeeded to the business of G. F. Van Vechten, banker. The original directors 
were A. T. xVverill, Geo. B. Douglas, G. F. Van Vechten, Joseph S. Cook, C. 
Magnus, J. M. Ristine. and C. B. Soiitter. Changes in the board of directors have 
occurred as follows : 

In 1888 P. E. Hall succeeded J. M. Ri.stine. In 1891 Ralph Van Vechten 
succeeded C. Magnus. In 1896 Mr. JIagnus was reelected to succeed C. B. Sout- 
ter. In 1899 Ed. H. Smith was elected to fill the vacancy caused bv the death 
of J. S. Cook. In 1906 P. E. Hall was snoceeded by J. H. Ingwersen. In 1906 
('. Magnus retired from the board, and in January, 1907, J. M. Ristine was 
elected to fill the vacanc.y. In 1909 C. D. Van Vechten was elected to fill the 
vacancy caused by the death of G. F. Van Vechten, and in 1910 Glenn M. Averil] 
was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, A. T. Averill. 

The present personnel of the board is as follows : Ralph Van Vechten, Geo. B. 
Douglas, Ed. II. Smith. J. ;\I. Ristine. J. H. Ingwersen. C. D. Van Vechten. and 
Glenn M. Averill. 

The original officers were A. T. Averill. president; G. F. Van Vechten, vice- 
president; Ralph Van Vechten, cashier. A. T. Averill served continuously as 
president until his death in 1910, and was succeeded in office by Ralph Van 
Vechten. G. F. Van Vet^hten was vice-president until the time of his death, 
wliich occurred in 1909, and he was succeeded in office by Geo. B. Douglas. In 
February, 1905, Ralph Van Vechten resigned his position as cashier, to assume 
the second vice-presidency of the Commercial National Bank of Chicago. At 
that time he was elected to the position of second vice-president of the Cedail 
Rajiids National Bank, being succeeded as cashier by J. II. Ingwersen. In 1908 
Mr. Ingwersen resigned as cashier to accept the presidency of the Peoples 
Trust and Savings Bank of Clinton. Iowa, and Kent C. Ferman, who had been 
assistant cashier since 1904. was appointed cashier. In 1904 John Fletcher 
was appointed assistant cashier, and ]\Iiss Anna Smouse auditor. In 1906 Mr. 
Fletcher resigned to accept the assistant cashiership of the Drovers Deposit 
National Bank of Chicago. In 1908 Louis Visha was appointed assistant cashier, 
and in 1909 .Martin Newcomer was appointed as assistant cashier. 




S. S. JOHNSON 
An Early Cedar Rapids Settler 



HANKS AND BANKING IN LINN COUNTY 445 

The present officei-s are tlierefore as follows: Ralpli Van Vechten, president; 
(jreo. H. Douplas. vice-president; Kent (". Ferinan, cashier; Ijoiiis Vishn, assistant 
cashier; Jfartin .Newcomer, assistant cashier; and Miss Anna Smotise, auditor. 

The bank has a capital of $100.(K)(), a surplus of $1(X).0(»(». undivided profits 
of over $l(Kt,0(H). and deposits of more than $8.ri()0.(KM). 

The Security Savings Hank was im-orporatcd Mardi 18, 1H8!). and upcnc-d for 
husiness April 26. 1889. 

The original stockholders numbered 87, of whom 22 have since died. 

The original d^ireetors were G. F. Van Veehten, C. J. Ives, J. R. Aiiiidon, 
Walter D. Douglas, Chas. II. Clark. Jno. E. Murra.v, W. W. Higley, J. K. Morin. 
and \V. F. Severa. Changes in the board of directors on account of death or 
disiiosition of stock have occurred as follows: In 1804 P. C. Frick succeeded 
J. R. Morin; in 189;') E. M. Scott succeeded W. F. Severa; in 1896 B. II. Witwer 
succeeded Chas. H. Clark, whose dcatii occurred during that year; in 1899. on 
aceount of temporary removal from the city, W. D. Douglas resigned and wa.s 
succeedtnl by C. D. Van Veehten. but on the death of W. W. Iligley, later in the 
year, Mr. Douglas was reelected to succeed him. In 1906 D. K. Harbert suc- 
ceeded C. J. Ives, who died that year, and in Janiiarj'. 1910. Emma M. Van Vech- 
ten was elected to succeed her husband. G. F. Ynn Vechten, whose death occurred 
the previous Septemlxr. 

President Van Veehten and Vice-President Ives served the bank continuously 
from it.s organization to the date of their respective deaths; Vice-President Ani- 
idon continuously since organization, and President Scott the same — tirst as 
cashier, then vice-president, and after Mr. Van Vechten 's death, as president. 
On January 1, 1908. J. W. Bowdish was engaged for one year to relieve Mr. Scott, 
during the building perioil. and .served as cashier throughout that year. Cashic^r 
Frank Filip entered the employ of the bank in 1S94. was promoted to assistant 
cashier in 1904, and made cashier in 1909. 

The original capital stock was $;50,000. which was later increased to $75,000. 
then to $100,000, and on .March 24, 1908, to $150,000. The present surplus is 
$100,000. Its total deposits are now about $l,8(XJ,()0i), belonging to 5,000 de- 
positors. 

The bank fii-st opened for business at 211 South Second street. In 1893 it 
erected on its ovn\ ground. 26x60 feet, on the conicr of Second avenue and Second 
street, a three-story brick bank building, contiiining the first exclusive safety 
deposit vaults in the city. In ]9(t2 additional ground was jiurchased and in 
1907 the three-story brick adjoining on the .stmth was purchased and the hnuk 
removed to a temporary office in this building, while it.s old home was replaced 
b}' its present eight-storj', steel frame, fire proof office building, where its banking 
apartments are modern and complete. 

The Bolicmian-.\inerican State Hank was organized under state charter and 
commenced business June 13, 1892, with a capital of $60.00(), its officers being 
W. F. Severa, iiresident ; S. h. Dows. vice-president; J. W. Bowdish. cashier: 
V. A. Jung, assistant cashier, .\mong its organizers were W. F. Severa, S. I,. 
Dows, J. II. Douglas, F. Hraun, Jos. Woitishek, Jos. Renchin, E. E. Pinney. 
H. B. Soutter, T. C. Munger, C. Butler Weeks. J. J. Powell, and Warren Harnian. 
It had a successful career and paid dividends from its commencement. It w.h-k 
consolidated Septendier 1, 1894. with the Ho)ieinian-.\meriean Savings Hank, in 
order to avail itself of the more lilx-ral charter given by thi' state to saving>4 
banks, the st(K-khol(lers and (le])osit(>rs practically all r<'mainintr with the new 
organization. 

The Iowa Savings Bank was organized under state charter and commence*! 
business May 1, 1893. with a capital of .$.50,000. Its officers were James IC 
Dong!a.s. president; W. F. Severa ami II. B. Sontter, vice-presidents; J. W. 
Bowdish, cashier; and V. A. Jiuig. assistant cashier. The directors were J. 11. 



446 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Douglas, F. Braun, H. B. Soutter, Warren Harman, Jos. Woitishek, S. L. Dows, 
W. F. Severa, T. C. Munger, C. Butler Weeks. 

On September 1, 1893, the articles of incorporation were changed, increasing 
the capital to $60,000, and changing the title to Bohemian-American Savings 
Bank. At the same date the Bohemian-American State Bank, desirous of the 
benefits of the more liberal charter offered savings banks, arranged to consolidate 
its interest with the Bohemian-American Savings Bank, which consolidation took 
effect September 1, 1894. 

The Bohemian-American Savings Bank enjoyed a prosperous growth, not- 
withstanding the effect of the panic of 1893, probably as severe a financial panic 
as at that time had ever been experienced. It paid regular semi-annual divi- 
dends and continued prosperous until its consolidation, March 28, 1898, with the 
Citizens National Bank and the American Trust and Savings Bank, two newly 
organized banks, the Citizens National Bank taking over the commercial depart- 
ment, and the American Trust and Savings Bank absorbing the sarongs depart- 
ment. 

The Cedar Rapids Savings Bank was incorporated March 13, 1883, and 
opened for business 'May 15, 1883. 

The original stockholders numbered 36, of whom eight have since died. The 
original directors were Jno. T. Hamilton, Lawson Daniels, Chas. B. Soutter, 
Robert Palmer, F. C. Hormel, Jas. L. Bever, Geo. W. Bever, A. T. Averill, and 
P. J. Upton. Changes in the board of directors on account of death or dispo- 
sition of stock have occurred as follows: In 1884 E. I. Foster succeeded F. J. 
Upton; in 1891 M. A. Higley succeeded Mr. Foster; in 1892, at the death of 
F. C. Hormel, J. M. Dinwiddle succeeded him; in 1897, J. JI. Terry succeeded 
A. T. Averill; in 1900 Robert Sinclair succeeded M. A. Higley, Geo. Goodell 
succeeded Jas. L. Bever, and E. R. Moore succeeded Geo. W. Bever. President 
John T. Hamilton, Vive-President Chas. B. Soutter, and Cashier J. M. Din- 
widdle have served continuously since the organization of the bank. 

The original capital stock of the bank, paid in cash, was $50,000, which has 
been twice increased — the first time to $75,000, and then to $100,000. The 
present surplus of the bank is $65,000, and the deposits over $1,850,000. 

The contract for the bank's six-story, fire proof building, the first six-story 
structure in the city, located at the comer of Third avenue and Third street, was 
let May 30, 1895, and the building was occupied in May, 1896. In 1909-10 an 
addition was erected, so that the building is now 90x140 feet. 

Its present officers are John T. Hamilton, president; Chas. B. Soutter, vice- 
president; Robert Palmer, vice-president; J. M. Dinwiddle, cashier; and W. J. 
Elliott, assistant cashier. Its directors are: John T. Hamilton, Chas. B. Soutter, 
J. M. Dinwiddle, Robert Palmer, Robert S. Sinclair, J. M. Terry, and Walter L. 
Cherry. 

The Merchants National Bank, of Cedar Rapids, was organized February 28, 
1881, the first board of directors being R. D. Stephens, John W. Henderson, P. C. 
Frick, W. W. Higley, J. C. Broeksmit, A. B. George, S. L. Dows. Its first' 
president was R. D. Stephens. John W. Henderson was chosen vice-president, 
and Charles E. Putnam, cashier. 

Mr. Stephens died in April, 1883, and was succeeded by M. A. Higley as 
president. In the spring of 1899 John T. Hamilton purchased the Stephens 
and other interests in the bank, and on June 5, 1899, succeeded Redmond 
Stephens as director. On July 1, 1889, M. A. Higley tendered his resignation as 
president, after more than sixteen years' service in that position. Jolui T. Hamilton 
being chosen president, which office he still holds. 

Chas. E. Putnam remained as cashier of the bank from the organization to 
January 14, 1905, when he resigned and was succeeded by James E. Hamilton, 
'vho had been assistant cashier since Januan' 28, 1901. On the consolidation of 



BANKS AND BANKING IN LINN COUNTY i47 

the Merchants National and the Citizens National. May 18, I'Jd.s, James E. 
Hamilton was made vice-president, and John S. Hroeksmit, who had been cashier 
of the Citizens National, was made cashier of the new and consolidated Merchants 
National. 

The oripinal capital stock of the Merchants National wa.s $100,000. The pres- 
ent capitalization is $2(X1,()00; surplus, $200,000; depo-sits of nearly $5,0O(),0(X>. 

From the time of its organization in 1881 until the consolidation with the 
Citizens National in May, 1908, more than twenty-seven years, the Merchants 
National occupied the room in the Ely block at the comer of Second avenue and 
Third street. The bank is now occupying elegant quarters in the remodeled 
Cedar Rapids Savings Bank building. The present officers are John T. Hamilton, 
president; P. C. Frick. vice-president; James E. Hamilton, vice-president; John 
S. Broeksmit, cashier; Edwin H. Furrow, a.ssistant cashier. 

The American Trust and Sa\ings Bank was organized under state charter 
and commenced business April 5, 1898, with a capital of $50,000. Its first officers 
were George W. Bever, president ; E. E. Pinney and \V. F. Severa, vice-presidents: 
R. T. Forbes, cashier. Its first hoard of directors consisted of E. E. Pinnev, J. L. 
Bever, J. B. Bever, W. F. Severa, Ja.s. II. Douglas, Geo. W. Bever. F. Braun, T. C. 
Munger, and Joseph Renchin. The object of its organization was to establish 
and conduct a strictly .savings business. It took over at the date of its commence- 
ment the .sa\'ings department of the Bohemian-American Savings Bank, and its 
total depo-sits on April 9, 1898, were $175,338.23, its location then being at the 
corner of First street and Second avenue. 

On February 22, 1899, it moved into the ^lasonic Temjile at the corner of 
First street and First avenue, which location it still occupies. In 1901 the cap- 
ital was increased from $50,000 to $80,000. This was rendered necessarj- owing 
to increased deposits, in order to comply with the then existing statutes governing 
the relative allowable amounts of deposits to capital stock. 

On Januarj- 1, 1908. the controlling interest in the bank passed into the hands 
of Ernest R. Moore. Louis Wokoun, and others of their as.sociates who were the 
dominant factors in the Fidelity Trust & Savings Bank, of this city. They 
arranged and carried out the consolidation of the two institutions. The officer?; 
then elected and board of directors named continue until this time. The present 
officers are Eme.st R. Jloore, president; W. F. Severa, S. G. Armstrong, and Otto 
Sikora. vice-presidents; Louis Wokoun, ca.shier. The board of directors are: 
C. J. Deacon, l/cw \V, Anderson, George Cliadima, F. Braun. S. G. Armstrong. 
W. F. Severa, Ernest R. Moore, W. R. Boyd, and Frank J. Pudil. 

On Januarj- 1, 1909, the capital of the bank was increased to $100,000, and the 
.surplus to $50,000. The deposits now aggregate $1,650,000. with total as-sets of 
$1,900,000. 

The Citizens National, Cedar Rapids, was opened March 28, 1898, capital 
$1()<),00() whi(;h was increa.sed to $200,000 January 2. 190C. Its first officers 
were J. L. Bever, president; J. R. Amidon. vice-president; J. \V. Bowdish, cash- 
ier; directors. J. L. Bever, W. F. Severa, J. B. Bever, F. Braun, J. H. Douglas, E. 
E. Pinney, J. T. Hamilton, G. W. Bever, R. Williams, J. R. Amidon, T. C. Mun- 
ger. In May, 1908. after a prosperous career this hank was consolidated with 
the Merchants National. 

The Commercial National. Cedar Ra|>ids, was organized July 7, 1908, with 
a capital of $100,000, nnd the following officers: Jas. L. Bever, president; W. C. 
La Tourette, vice president ; J. L. Bever, Jr., cashier, Homer Pitner, assistant 
cashier. 

The First Trust & Savings Bank, which is closely connected with the Commer- 
cial National, having the same officers, was organized August 4. 1910. with a 
capital sttH-k of $5O.(XK).0O. 



448 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

These two banks have had a remarkable growtli, the eonil>ined resources now 
being over $1,500,000. The dean of Cedar Rapids bankers. Jas. L. Bever, takes 
an active interest in both institutions. The present officers are: J. L. Bever. 
president; J. L. Bever, Jr., W. C. La Tourette. vice-president: Homer Pitner. 
cashier, and F. D. Snakenberg, assistant cashier. 

The Cedar Rapids Loan & Trust Company was organized on Fel)ruary 1. 
1900, with a paid up capital of $50,000 for the purpose of doing such a trast 
business as the laws of Iowa authorized. Those who were most active in the or- 
ganization and who constituted the first board of directors were as follows: Ed. 
H. Smith, president ; L. W. Anderson, first vice-president ; W. G. Dows, second 
vice-president ; S. S. Dorwart., S. S. Sweet, E. E. Clark, Ralph Van Veehteu, N. 
M. HiAbard, Jr., John A. Reed, S. G. Armstrong, and W. L. Crissman. 

Its board elected L. M. Rupert as secretary and the officers as first selected 
remained the same during the corporation's continuance under the name of the 
Cedar Rapids Loan & Trust Company. The company was located at the north- 
west corner of First street and Second avenue and was conducted as a trust com- 
pany until June 1, 1904. when a majority of the capital stock passed into the 
hands of Ernest R. Moore and Louis Wokoun and their associates. In order to 
bring the institution under the operation of the general savings bank laws of the 
8tate and to permit it to transact a general banking business the articles of in- 
corporation were amended to change the name to The Fidelity Trust & Savings 
Bank while at the same time the office of the bank was changed to 116 South Sec- 
ond street, a location much nearer the business center of the city. Under the re- 
organization the stflckholdei"s selected the following officers and directors: W. 
W. Hamilton, president; Ernest R. Moore, firet vice-president: \V. G. Dows, sec- 
ond vice-president; Louis Wokoun, cashier; S. G. Armstrong, E. E. Clark, H. L. 
Walker, C. J. Deacon, L. W. Anderson. 

This bank was later consolidated with the American Trust & Savings Bank. 

The El.v Bank, of Ely, was organized in January-, 1903, with J. II. Smith, 
president; Ed. H. Smith and I. B. Smith, vice-presidents, and George L. Benish. 
cashier. The bank is a private one, and the present officers are the same as the 
original ones. 

The Bank of Palo was organized May 23, 1908, with a capital stock of $10,000. 
and the following officers: J. W. McClintock, president; Carl Rabe, vice-presi- 
dent ; G. E. Carrier, cashier. Its present officers are : J. W. McClintock, presi- 
dent ; John Lewis, vice-president ; R. W. Waite, cashier. 

The State Bank of Central City was organized January 17, 190(3. with P. G. 
Henderson, president; E. K. Hatch, vice-president: Ed. Leclere, cashier; A. T. 
Minehart, assistant cashier, and P. G. Henderson, E. K. Hatch, F. W. Blakely, O. 
R. Barber, Eugene Doe, H. L. Shakespeare, and E. E. Henderson, directors. Since 
that time there have been but few changes in the officers. At present the officers 
and directors are: P. G. Henderson, president; Eugene Doe, vice-president; F. 
Leclere, cashier; H. F. Lockwood, a-ssistant cashier; E. G. Henderson, Eugene 
Doe, 0. R. Barber, H. L. Shakespeare, W. N. Goldsberry, Anton Falcon, and E. 
E. Henderson, directors. When the bank was organized it took over from the 
Bank of Central City deposits to the amount of $72,802.29. The bank has growii 
steadily, and the deposits are now over $350,000.00. Originally the capital stock 
was $25,000.00, which was increased to $35,000.00 in July, 1909. The stock is 
ovraed by forty-one farmers and is conducted principally for the farmers. It 
opens at seven o 'clock in the morning and does not close until six o 'clock in the 
evening. 

The Linji County Savings Bank, of Center Point, was organized April 23, 1906. 
with L. Gilchrist, president; W. Langsdale, vice-president; Homer Pitner, cashier. 
and J. F. Stautfer, assistant cashier. Owing to the resignation of the cashier, 





THOS. J. MlKKAN 



N. \V..ISBELL 





WM. GKEENE 



(). S HC)\Vl.lN(i 
An Old Cellar Knpitls SeHler 



BANKS AND BANKING IX I-IXX COUNTY U!) 

J. P. Staiiflfer was later inadi' ca.sliier, and E. K. Silvi-r. assistant i-asliicr. 'I'lif 
i-apital stock is $20,W().0(>. and the bank luus a snri)lus of $:?,{XM1.(M). 

The Fairfax Savinps Bank was organized May 15. 1907, with a capital of 
$10,(HX).(H) and with ofliccrs as follows: II. N. W(j<idward, president; llenrv 
Lefebmv, vice-president; Charles Younjr, cashier; Lewis Ktallinan. JoKei)h Vorcl, 
J. F. Dvorak. \Villiain Park and 1). J. Cahill, directors. On Aii^iist 1, 190S. t;. 
W. Storey was chosen cashier in jilace of Charles Younjr, resigned. C. J. Knick- 
erbocker was elected assistant cashier in September. 1!)(>8. The directora today 
arc: James M. Rogers, K. J. (^ahill, J. F'. Dvorak. Joseph Vorel. L. F. Lefebure, 
n. N. Woodward, and Ilenrj- Lefebure. The bank has grown st^-adily since its 
organization and now has deposits amounting to $100,000.00. 

The private bank of Stuekslager & Auracher, of Lisbon, was fmnuled in 1874 
with Harrison Stuekslager as president, and Gotlcib Auracher as cashier. The 
otficei-s todav are W. C. Stuekslager. president, and Ji)hn Auracher. cashier. It 
has a capital of $ia).tX)0.00. 

The Albuniette Savings Bank was organized in April, 1908. with K. ^I. Laii- 
ning, president; Samuel ^laier, vice-president, and Geo. F. Miller, cashier. There 
has been no change in officers except that W. F. Staufter was elected assistant 
cashier in August, 1909. The bank has a <'apital of $l;i.000.0O, and a surplus of 
$1,500.00. It succeeded the Albumette Haid<. which was a private institution, 
and has en.joyed a stead.v growth. 

The Prairieburg Savings Bank was orgiinized October 1, 1904, with C. L. N'ilcs. 
president; II. F. Came, vice-president, mid F. J. Cunningham, cashier. There 
has been but one change of officers, C. E. Buckley being the present cashier. The 
bank has a capital sto<'k and surplus of $14,6(X). Its growth has been stead.v and 
satisfacto^J^ 

The Bank of Troy Mills was organized in March, 1908, with Floyd J. Ware, 
president, and Thomas A. Ware, cashier. These, with Marie R. Ware, assistant 
cashier, arc the present otTicers. The institution has a capital sttx-k of $2n,(KX).0(i, 
and a surplus of $5,000.00. 

The Coggon State Bank was organized in 1892 with Jacol) Mangold, president : 
G. A. Sehenkowitz, \nce-president, and II. T. Brainerd, cashier. The present ofli- 
«ers are S. N. Goodhue, president; J. II. Elders, vice-president; D. D. John.son. 
cashier, and Wallace S. Hamilton, assistant cashier. The bank has a capital 
stock of .$25,000.00, jind a surplus of the same amount. It has deposits of nearly 
•$.300,000.00. 

The Exchange Bank of Spring\ille was established in 1878 by Josc|)h S. 
Butler, witli a capital of $25,000.00. The firm name of the owners is J. S. Butler 
& Son, with C. F. Butler, president, and Sam James, Jr.. cashier. It has a capital 
stock of $75,000.00 and resources of $400.(MH).00. 

The Exchange State Bank of Walker wa.s established in 1885 as a private bank 
by II. J. .Vietcrt, and was organized as a State Bank March 1. 1907. The jiresent 
offici'rs arc II. J. Nietert, president; Martin Schneider, vice-president; Theo. W. 
Hawkinson, cashier; 11. J. Nietert, Martin Schneitier. Henry Fairchild. E. N. 
Beach. William Trevor, John B. Michael, Theo. Hamblin, ("has. O. Barrv*. and 
Adam Zimpfer. directors. It has a capital stock of $50,(X)0.00, a surplus of $5.- 
000.00, and undivided profits of $10,000.00. It is worthy of note here that this 
was one of the few banks that met their jiaynients in cash during the panic of 1907. 

The Mount Venum Bank was organized January Ifi, 1884, by William Smith, 
James Carson, and H. H. Rood. Mr. Carson being the jiresident ; Mr. Roo<I the 
vice-president, and Mr. Smith the cashier. The oflicers today are: W. C. Stuek- 
slager, president; D. L. Bovd. vice-president, and Chas. M. llartung, cashier. 
The bank has a capital .sto.-k of $100,000.00. 

The Marion Savings Bank was incorporated Febniary 22, 1889. by .\ndrew 
J. JIcKcan. E. A. Vjiughii, F. (J. Hervey. J. S. Alexander and Jay J. Sm.vth, Mr. 



450 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Smyth being the president and S. N. Goodhue the cashier. It has a capital stock 
of $30,000.00, and deposits today of over $300,000.00. The officers at present are : 
B. F. Mentzer, president ; J. W. Bowanan, cashier ; B. F. IMentzer, W. W. Vaughn, 
F. A. Shumaelv, J. S. Alexander. Karl W. Kendall, C. H. Kurtz and J. W. Bow- 
man, directors. 

The Farmers & Merchants State Bank, of Marion, was organized in 1894, with 
Samuel N. Goodhue, president; George W. Toms, vice-president, and E. J. Es- 
gate, cashier. Two years later George W. Toms succeeded Mr. Goodhue as pres- 
ident, and T. J. Davis became vice-president. In 1902 A. M. Secrist succeeded 
Mr. Davis as vice-president. The present officers are George W. Toms, president ; 
A. M. Secrist, vice-president, and E. J. Esgate, cashier. The capital stock of the 
bank is $60,000.00, surplus, $5,000.00. The directors of the bank are: George 
W. Toms, A. M. Secrist, W. B. Carpenter, Garry Treat. D. H. Correll, C. C. Car- 
penter, W. P. Secrist, W. E. Beall, A. E. Granger, W. J. Goodyear and E. J. Es- 
gate. 

The Commercial Savings Bank, of Marion, was organized March 1, 1905, with 
E. R. Mason, president ; F. A. H. Greulich and H. C. Oxley, vice-presidents ; H. C. 
Millen, cashier, and E. H. Millen, a.ssistant cashier. There has been no change 
in officers since organization. The bank has a capital stock of $25,000.00, and 
undivided profits of $3,000.00. It has deposits of over $350,000.00, and has 
shown a steady growth each year. 

The First National Bank, of Marion, succeeded the private banking firm of 
Winslow, Stephens & Co., in 1862, with R. D. Stephens as its first president, and 
A. W. Cranden as its first cashier. Later, J. W. Bowdish became cashier until 
succeeded by Jay J. Smyth. 

In 1881 Mr. Stephens organized the iMerchants National Bank of Cedar Rap- 
ids, but continued as president of the First National Bank of Marion until his 
death, March. 1883, when Louisa B. Stephens, his widow, was made president. 
She continued as such for three years. Mr. Jay J. Smyth then became presi- 
dent, and S. N. Goodhue, cashier. Mr. Goodhue was succeeded by J. S. Alex- 
ander in 1892. In 1896 Mr. Alexander became president, and C. H. Kurtz, cash- 
ier, the officers so continuing until September, 1908, w^hen C. H. Kurtz became 
president, and J. W. Bowman, cashier. In January, 1909, T. J. Davis was chasen 
president, and J. W. Bowman continued as cashier, and these gentlemen are at 
this date its present officers. The capital stock has remained since the organiza- 
tion at $50,000.00, and the surplus at $10,000.00. This is the only First National 
Bank charter now in existence in Linn county. The bank was the llTtli National 
bank chartered by the government. It has declared in cash dividends $170,051.32, 
and has never pa.ssed a dividend or even temporarily closed its doors. Among 
.some of its employees who went out into the world to win success from this bank 
are Ed. M. Scott, now pre^sident of the Security Savings Bank, of Cedar Rapids ; 
W. S. Goodhue, ca.shier of the State Bank of Vinton ; J. W. Bowdish, who became 
cashier of the American Trust & Savings, and later cashier of the Securitj' Savings 
of Cedar Rapids; Chas. Jackson, now cashier of the First National Bank, of 
Manilla, Iowa ; F. J. Cleveland, now county auditor. Dr. Jno. 3\I. Ristine, now 
verj- prominent in Cedar Rapids, was employed as a young man in this bank. The 
present president, T. J. Davis, was employed as bookkeeper in 1881, continuing 
for five years, when he became activelj' engaged in the lumber business in JLirion 
and vice-president of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank until he again en- 
tered the First National as its president. 



CHAPTER XLII 

Rosier of County Officers 

Linn county was organized in 18:58 and thi' first election for county officern 
was held August, 1839. The legislative board of the eounty, or what corresponds 
to our present board of supervisors, was composed of three members called a 
board of commissioners. The following persons served on the board of commis- 
sioners : 

Samuel C. Stewart, Peter McRoberts, Luman M. Strong, 1839. 

E. T. Lewis, B. McGonigle. S. C. Stewart, 1842. 

E. T. Lewis, Oliver Day. B. McGonigle, 1843. 

Oliver Day, E. T. Lewis, \V. B. Davis, 1844. 

W. B. Da^ns, Andrew Safely, 1846. 

Andrew Safely, Benjamin Waterhouse, Samuel Hendriekson. 1847. 

S. Hendriekson, Andrew Safelv, Johnson Hill, 1850. 

A. Safely. Jolinson Hill, Wm. A. Thoma.s, 1851. 

The above system continued until the first code was enacted in 1851 which 
abolished the board of commissioners and provided for the election of one officer 
to be called "county judge" who performed the duties of our present board 
of supervisors and in addition was probate judge and presided over what wa« 
called a "county court." The old election books now preserved in the county 
auditor's office show the following persons to have been elected to this office: 

Nonnan W. Isbell, elected August, 1851. 

James M. Berrj', elected August, 1854. 

Diuiiel Lothian, elected August, 1857. three terms. 

Johnston Elliott, elected October, 1863, two terms. 

A. B. Dumont, elected October, 1867. one term. 

Isbell resigned June 12. 1854. and Joseph B. Young, prosecuting attorney, 
acted as county judge until the next election when James M. Berr.v was elected 
to fill the vacancy. 

The legislative duties of the county judge were vested by the Eighth General 
Assembly in a board of supervisors consisting of one member from each township 
or two in those townships having over 4,0(X) inhabitants. The first board sat 
Januarj- 7. 1861. The clerk of the district court was ex-officio clerk of the board 
of snif)er\isors. The Twelfth General Assembly abolished the office of county 
judge altoErether and vesting the judicial duties in the district court created the 
office of county atiditor to assume the ones not already vested in the supervisors 
and clerk of the district court. The first auditor's term tn-gan the first Monday 
of Januar\', 1869. 

B«^rtram — Perr\- O.xlev. 1861-1867 and 1870; Wm. O Darr. 1868-186!). 

Brown — Wm. Carbee, 1861-1862; Hos<>a White. 1863-1866; T. M. Giffen. 
1867-1868; J. F. Gritman, 1869-1870. 

Boulder — Jos. Whitney. 1861-1862 and 1869-1870; Earhart Burke. 1863. 
resigned juid term completed bv John B. McQueen; J. B. McQueen. 1864; Neeley 
Parsons. 1865-1867; Wm. Wa^iVr. 1868. 

BuflTalo — Jos. Ston-. 1861-1862; E. M. Crow. 1863-1870. 

Clinton — D. M. Sniith, 18611863; Geo. Buchanan. 1864-1866 and 1868-1869; 
1 T. TTpdike. 1867; Edwin Cadwell, 1870. 



452 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

College — John W. Henderson, 1861-1862; Robert Pierce, 1863-1864; Adam 
Perrj', 1865-1867 ; Jonathan Neidig, 1868 ; W. H. Shuey, 1869-1870. 

Fairfax — Phillip Moody, 1861-1864; AV. B. Rej-nolds, 1865-1866; Win. Ure, 
1867-1870. 

Payette — Levi W. Johnson, 1S61-1863 ; resigned and last terra completed 
by J. D. Hays ; John E. Langlev, 1864-1865 ; W. J. Whiting, 1866-1868 ; H. B. 
McKean, 1869-1870. 

Franklin — Wm. Hayzlett, 1861-1862 and 1868-1869; HeniT Kepler, 1863- 
1867; C. H. Kurtz, 1870. 

Jackson — Jos. Blodgett, 1861-1862 ; John P. Fav, 1863 and 1866-1867 ; Seth 
Bishop, 1864-1865; Wm. Henderson, 1868-1870. 

Linn — William L. Miller, 1861 ; George Yeisley, 1862-1863 ; D. M. Richard- 
son, 1864-1865; J. W. Handley, 1866-1867; James Johnston, 1868-1869; H. C. 
Platner, 1870. 

Maine— Samuel F. Buxton, 1861-1862; L. D. Jordan, 1863-1866; Ormus 
Clark, 1867-1868; E. A. Warner, 1869, seat contested m 1870 and board declared 
seat vacant and notified trustees of Maine township. 

Marion — A. J. Twogood, 1861-1862; A. B. Dumont, 1863, resigned and term 
completed by A. Manson; A. Manson, 1864; R. D. Stephens, 1865-1869; R. D. 
Stephens and E. A. Vauglin, 1870. 

Monroe — Daniel Albaugh, 1861-1869; M. N. Kramer, 1870. 

Otter Creek — James H. Mason. 1861-1862; L. F. Dance. 1863-1864; Caleb 
Hendrj'x, 1865-1866; John Lanning, 1867-1868; Henry Harris, 1869; A. F. 
Yambert, 1870. 

Putnam — Wiley Fitz, 1861-1862; Elmore H. Prickett, 1863-1864; Abner 
Arrowsmith, 1865, resigned and term completed by Ferdinand Kershner; Ferdi- 
nand Kershner, 1866-1867 ; Joseph Moorhead. 1868-1870. 

Rapids — John Weare, 1861, 1864 and 1867; J. P. Charles, 1862; Charles 
Weare, 1863 ; J. M. Chambers, 1865 ; H. G. Angle, 1866 ; William Stewart and 
William Richmond, 1868; William Stewart and Charles Weare, 1869; Charles 
Weare and W. D. Watrous, 1870. 

Spring Grove — J. H. Fairchild, 1861-1862 and 1864 to 1866, and 1869-1870; 
R. C. Shinn, 1863; J. H. Walton. 1867-1868. 

Washington — Cor>'don Gilchrist, 1861 ; John Carr, 1862 and 1867-1868 ; Z. 
Mentzer, 1863-1864; William Langsdale. 186.5-1866; E. D. Hazletine, 1869-1870. 

In 1870 the number of the board was reduced to tliree members, one being 
elected each year in the county at large, but at the 1874 election the county had 
been divided into three supervisor districts and a .supervisor was elected from 
each district as at present. The following persons have served up to date : 

FIRST DISTRICT 

William Ure, elected October, 1870, two terms. 
James Yuill, elected October, 1875. two terms. 
John T. Hamilton, elected Oetoljer, 1881, one term. 
James Yuill, elected Noveml)er, 1884, two terms. 

Patrick Mullaly, elected November, 1890, one terra. Resigned and Charles H. 
Playter appointed to complete the term. 

William J. Donnan, elected November, 1893, two terms. 
.Vndrew J. Fuhrmeister, elected November, 1899. 

SECOND DISTRICT 

Robert P. Rose, elected October, 1870. 
Robert P. Rose, elected October, 1871. 




INUKPKNDKNT HUSK COMPANY, fKDAK KAl'lDS, lS7a 

,' n, J- J- ^- ^"*'- Baxter S. McQuin C. A. Laiinince 

lieo. P. (lordon Will Ferguson Archie A. Ayers Lyman M. Ayers 



KOSTEK OF LINN COUNTY OFFICEKtS 453 

Daniel Travis, elected October, 1874. two terms. 
Robert Smith, elected Xoveinbcr, 1880, one term. 
-Mordecai E. Buntinp, elected Oct^iber. 188;{, two terms, 
(iarry Treat, elected Novemlter, 1889, tlin>e terms. 
John J. Ives, elected November, 1898. 

THIRD DISTRICT 

Joseph Whitney, elected October, 1870. 

Joseph Whitney, elected Octol)cr, 1873. 

Allies M. Crookshank. elected October, 1876. 

Albert C. Burnett, appointed June, 1881. 

E. D. Wlson. elected October, 1881. 

James II. Davis, ekfted November, 1882, two terms. 

.\braham C Coquillette, elected November, 1888, two terms. 

Ilenrj- Fairchild. elected November, 1894, two terms. 

Leonidas L. Wilson, elected November, 1900. 

Greorgre E. W. Leonard was declared elected supervisor in ()ctol)er, 187;^, but 
the election was contcsti'd by Joseph Whitney and the court for trial of contested 
election reinstated Mr. Whitney. 

Croolisluink resigmed and Albert C. Burnett was appointed and took his seat 
at the June, 1881. session and at the general election October. 1881. E. D. Wilson 
was elected to fill the vacancy. 

COUNTY AUDITORS 

J. V. Coulter, elected November. 1869. three terms. 
Samuel Daniels, elected October. 1875. three terms. 
Jas. Aloorhead, elected October. 1881. three terms. 
Ja.s. E. Bromwell, elected November. 1887. two terms. 
Wm. G. Treat, elected November, 1892, one term. 
Edward L. ("amp. elected November. 1894. two terms. 
Wm. T. Jackson, elected November, 1898. two terms. 

The terms of all county auditors were extended one year by the legislature 
during Mr. BromweH's second term, so that countj- treasurer and auditor would 
not be elected the same year. 

RECORDER .AND TREASURER 

The code of 1851 provided tliat these tw() offices should Im- held l>y one person. 
Isaac Cook, elected August. 1851. two terms. 
Nathan M. Day, ele<'ted August. 1855, two terms. 
Wm. Cook, elected Octol)er, 1859, two terms. 
Ja.s. Johnston, elected October, 1863, one term. 

COUNTY TREASLRKR 



Richard T. Wil.son. elected October, 1865, four terms. 
Stephen T. Berr^•, elected October, 1873. three terms. 
Hobert M. Jack.son. elected October. 1879. fo\ir terms. 
Jos. Bamhill, elected November. 1887, two terms. 
Jos. S. Lake, elected NovemlK?r, 1891, one term. 
Franklin E. Witter, elected November, 1893. two terms. 
Oeo. W. Eakle, elected November. 1897, two terms. 



454 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

COUNTY RECORDER 

John J. Daniels, elected November, 1864, four terms. 
Chas. E. Putnam, elected November, 1872, four terms. 
Christian H. Kurtz, elected November, 1880, four terms. 
R. Hershey Jones, elected November, 1888, one term. 
Chas. C. Mentzer, elected November, 1890, one term. 
Elvin H. Dunbar, elected November, 1892, two terms. 
John H. French, elected November, 1896, two terms. 
Perley 0. Clark, elected November, 1900. 

SHERIFF 

Hosea W. Gray, 1840. 

Ambrose Harlan, 1844. 

Samuel W. Durham, 1846. 

Ambrose Harlan, 1848. 

Vincent Beall, elected Augu.st, 1851, one term. 

Samuel Brazelton, elected August, 1853, one term. 

Levi H. llason, elected August, 1855, two terms. 

Thos. J. McKean, elected October, 1859. 

Resigned and Jolin A. Ide appointed February 28, 1861, who in turn resigned 
and W. W. Smith appointed March 11, 1861. 

Wm. W. Smith, elected October, 1861. 

Resigned and Oliver 0. Stanchfield appointed September 3, 1862, to fill the 
vacancy until the next general election. 

Oliver O. Stanchfield, elected October, 1862. 

Hiel Hale, elected October, 1865, one term. 

John G. Hayzlett, elected October, 1867, three terms. 

G. D. GiUilan, elected October, 1873, two terms. 

David Carskaddon, elected October, 1877, one term. 

Aaron F. Yambert, elected October, 1879. 

Died in office and J. H. Yambert appointed to fill vacancy. At the next 
general election (November, 1880) E. L. Swem was declared elected by the board 
of canvassers, but the court for the trial of contested election seated B. F. 
Seaton. 

J. H. Yambert, appointed September 6. 1880. 

B. F. Seaton, elected November. 1880. 

Geo. W. Bumside, elected November, 1885, two terms. 

Dan R. Kinley, elected November, 1889, three terms. 

Jolin Cone, elected November, 1895, two terms. 

Martin Evans, elected November, 1899. 

CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT 

S. H. Tryon, 1841, 1842, 1843. 

John C. Berrj% 1844, 1845, 1846. 

Porter W. Earl, 1847, 1848, 1849. 

Hosea W. Gray, September. 1849, 1850. 

James JI. Beriy, 1851. 

James M. Berry, elected August, 1852. 

Andrew J. iMcKean, elected August. 1854, nine terms. 

John L. Crawford, elected November, 1872. three terms. 

George L. Steams, elected October. 1878, fom' terms. 

Jackson W. Bowdish, elected November, 1886, one term. 

Oscar F. Lamb, elected November, 1888, one term. 



ROSTER OF LINN COUNTY OFFICERS 455 

David W. Reynolds, elected Novemher, 1890, one term. 
Oscar F. Lamb, elected November, 18!)2, two term.s. 
Jaint^ W. liownian. elected .\ovemi)er, lS!»(i, two terms. 
Charles W. Rni.ska, elected November, 1900. 

COUNTY ATTORNEY 

This office was created in 1886 by the T\venty-first General Assembly. 
M. L. Ward, elected November, 1886. 

Resigned to remove from the county and Mil«> 1'. Smith appointed September. 
1887, to fill the vacancy until the next fjencral election. 
Milo P. Smith, elected November, 1887. 
John M. Redmond, elected November, 1890, one term. 
John M. Grimm, elected November, 1892, tiiree terms. 
William O. Clemans, elected November, 1898, two terms. 

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 

This oflRce was created in 1858 by the Seventh Genenil Assembly. 
Albert Manson. elected April, 18r)8. 
Ira G. Fairbanks, elected October, 1850, two terms. 
P. W. Reeder, elected Octt)ber, 1863, one term. 
H. S. Bradshaw, elected Octflber, 1865, one term. 
Z. V. Elsberr>', elected October, 1S67, one term. 
William Lanpham. elected October. 1869, two term.s. 
Eli Johnston, elected October, 1873, four tenns. 
John S. Willard. elected October, 1881, two terms. 
Frank J. Sessoins, elected November, 1885. 

Resigned July 30, 1889, to accept superintendeney of schools at WaterlcKi, 
Iowa, and Fred Chamberlain appointed to complete the term. 
Fred Chamberlain, appointed July 30. 1889. 
F. Shennan Thompson, elected November, 1882, two terms. 
Nathan II. Richards, elected November, 1893, two terms. 
Ira E. Gould, elected November. 1897, two terms. 

CORONER 

Oren E. Shipman, elected August, 1851, one term. 

Isaac Whittam, elected August, 1853, one term. 

Benjamin Gaylord, elected August, 1855, one term. 

John.ston Elliott, elected August, 1857, one term. 

Mowry Farnum, elected October, 1859. four terms. 

Mr. Famum was re-elected a fifth time in October, 1867, but refused to 
qualify and accept the office and Alexander Laurancc was appointed Jan\iary 11. 
1868, to fill this oflRce. 

Alexander Laurance. appointeti Jammry, 1868, eleven terms. 

John B. Turner, elected November, 1889. four terms. 

Cordy H. Ranck, elected November, 1897. two terms. 

COUNTS' SURVEYORS ' 

Rms McCloud. 1839. 
Samuel W. Durham, 1841. 
Thomius J. McKcan, 1843. 
A. D. Bottorf, 1847. 

Col. Samuel W. Durham stated that Mr. Bottorf was accidentally killetl in 
office. A gentleman from Putnam township by the name of Cox was in the 



456 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

county surveyor's office on business, and as was frequent in those days, carried 
a musket wliieh he leaned up in tlie eorner of the door and door frame. The 
opening of the door threw the gun on the floor, and it was discharged, wounding 
Mr. Bottorf in the heel. The wound was not considered serious but blood poison- 
ing set in and death resulted. 

John McArthur. . 

Samuel W. Durham, elected August, 1851, one term. 

Thomas J. Stone, elected August, 1853, one term. 

Adam Perry, elected August, 1855, one term. 

Plimpton Greer, elected August, 1857, one term. 

George A. Gray, elected October, 1859, one term. 

John L. Crawford, elected October, 1861, one term. 

John M. Greer, elected October, 1863, two terms. 

George A. Gray, elected October, 1866. 

Samuel W. Durham, elected October, 187], two terms. 

James E. Lyman, elected October. 1875. 

George W. WjTin, elected November, 1880. 

G. A. ]\Iitchell, elected November, 1885, two terms. 

Samuel W. Durham, elected November, 1889, two terms. 

Edmond P. BojTiton, elected November, 1893, one term, 

Thos. R. Warriner, elected November, 1895, one term. 

John H. Lary, elected November, 1897, one term. 

Jos. D. Wardle, elected November, 1899. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1900 

Supervisors — A. J. Fuhrmeister, J. J. Ives, L. L. Wilson. 

Auditor — W. T. Jack.son. 

Treasurer — Geo. W. Eakle. 

Clerk District Court — C. W. Braska. 

Recorder — P. 0. Clark. 

Sheriff — Martin Evans. 

County Attorney — • W. 0. Clemans. 

Superintendent of Schools — I. E. Gould. 

Coroner — C. H. Ranck. 

Sui-veyor — J. D. Wardle. 

Judges District Court — W. G. Thompson, H. JI. Remley, W. N. Treichler. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1901 

Supervisors — A. J. Fuhrmeister. A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson. 

Aiiditor — William T. Jackson. 

Treasurer — ■ Geo. W. Eakle. 

Clerk District Coiu-t — Chas. W. Braska. 

Recorder — P. O. Clark. 

Sheriff — Martin Evans. 

Coimty Attorney — Wm. 0. Clemans. 

Superintendent — J. E. Vance. 

Coroner — D. W. King. 

Countv Surveyor — J. D. Wardle. 

Judges? — W. 6. Thompson, H, il. Remley, W. N. Treichler. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1902 

S\ipervisors — A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson. 
Auditor — William T. Jackson. 







CITY HESIUENCKS, CKDAK KAI'IUS 



R08TEK OF MXX COUNTY OFFICERS 457 

Treasurer — Cha.s. D. Carroll. 

Clerk District Court — Chas. W. Braska. 

Rworder — V. 0. Clark. 

.Sheriti' — Martin Evans. 

County Attorney — Wni. O. Clemans. 

Superintendent — J. E. Vance. 

Coroner — D. W. King. 

Surveyor — J. 1). Wardle. 

Judges — W. G. Thompson. II. .M. Remley. W. X. Treichler. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1903 

Supervisors — A. J. Fuhnneister. A. H. Strother, L. L. Wilson. 

Auditor — R. C. Jackson. 

Treasurer — Chas. D. Carroll. 

Clerk District (.^ourt — Chas. W. Braska. 

R<H:'order — P. O. Clark. 

Sheriff — Martin Evans. 

County Attorney — Joseph Mekota. 

Superintendent — J. E. Vance. 

Coroner — D. \V. Kinp:. 

Sun'eyor — .T. D. Wardle. 

Judges — ^ W. G. Thompson, J. H. Preston, B. 11. Miller. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1904 

Supervi.sors — A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson. 

Auditor — R. C. Jack.son. 

Treasurer — Cluirles D. Carroll. 

Clerk Di.striet Court— Chas. W. Bni.ska. 

R<?corder — P. O. Clark. 

Sheriff — A. W. Coquilletto. 

County Attorney — Joseph Mekota. 

Superintendent — J. E. Vance. 

Coroner — D. W. King. 

Surveyor — J. D. Wardle. 

Judges District Court — W. G. Thompson, J. H. Preston, B. H. ^liller. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1905 

Super\'isors — A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother. L. L. Wilson. 

Auditor — R. C. Jackson. 

Treasurer — Chjis. D. Carroll. 

Clerk Di.striet Court — II. C. Ring. 

Recorder — C. W. Biggs. 

Sheriff — A. W. CoquilletU'. 

County Attorney — C. G. Watkins. 

Superintendent — J. E. Vance. 

Coroner — D. W. King. 

Surveyor — J. D. Wardle. 

.ludges— W. O. Thompson. J. II. Pr.stnn. M. II Miller. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1906 

Supervisors— E. W. Virden. A. B. Strother. L I-. Wil.son. 
Auditor — R. C. Jack.son. 



458 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Treasurer — Chas. D. Carroll. 

Clerk District Court — H. C. Ring. 

Recorder — C. W. Biggs. 

Sheriff — A. W. Coquillette. 

County Attorney — ■ C. G. Watkius. 

Superintendent — - J. E. Vance. 

Coroner — D. W. King. 

Surveyor — ■ S. N. Par.sons. 

Judges — W. G. Thompson, J. H. Preston, B. H. Miller. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1907 

Supervisors — Allan JIcDuff, Wm. P. Secrist, J. C. Gritman. 

Auditor — F. J. Cleveland. 

Treasurer — H. E. Pratt. 

Clerk District Court — H. C. Ring. 

Recorder — C. W. Biggs. 

Sheriff — A. W. Coquillette. 

County Attorney — Chas. J. Haas. 

Superintendent — A. B. Alderman. 

Coroner — W. S. King. 

Surveyor — P. F. Randall. 

Judges — Mile P. Smith, W. X. Treiehler, F. 0. Ellison. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1908 

Supervisors — Allan McDuff, Wm. P. Secrist, J. C. Gritman. 

Auditor — F. J. Cleveland. 

Treasurer — H. E. Pratt. 

Clerk District Court — H. C. Ring. 

Recorder — C. W. Biggs. 

Sheriff — A. W. Coquillette. 

County Attorney — Chas. J. Haas. 

Superintendent — • A. B. Alderman. 

Coroner — W. S. King. 

Judges District Court — ]Milo P. Smith, W. N. Treiehler, F. 0. Ellison. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1 909- 1 9 1 

Super^'isors — Allan ilcDuff, Wm. P. Secrist, J. C. Gritman. 

Auditor — F. J. Cleveland. 

Treasurer — Hariy E. Pratt. 

Clerk District Court — Wm. Dennis. 

Recorder — J. E. Cook. 

Sheriff — Wm. G. Loftus. 

Coimty Attornej- — Chas J. Haas. 

Superintendent — A. B. Alderman. 

Coroner — W. S. King. 

Survevor — J. W. Bowdish, Jr. 

Judges District Court — :Milo P. Smith, W. N. Treiehler, F. 0. Ellison. 

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 191 I 

Supervisors — Allan IMcDuff, Wm. P. Secrist. J. C. Gritman. 
Auditor — F. A. Canfield. 



ROSTER OF IJNN COUNTY OFFICERS 459 

Troasiin>r — J. B. Travis. 

Clerk Distrii't Court — Win. Dennis. 

R<H;order — J. E. Cook. 

Sheriff — Wm. G. Loftus. 

County Attorney — G. P. Linville. 

Superintendent — A. H. Alderman. 

Coroner — W. S. King. 

Surveyor — Raymond Swem. 

JudgeJ* District Court — Milo P. Smith, W. N. Treichler, F. 0. Ellison. 



CHAPTER XLIII 

History of Marion, the County Seat 
BY HON. JAMES E. BROMWELL 

•Marion, most iittingly called the "City Beautiful,"" or the "Grove City,"' wa.s 
laid out in 1839 on a semi-circular plateau of prairie that lay mthin a timbered 
crescent bordering and following the course of Indian creek on the west, and open- 
ing into a vast extent of prairie on the east, to which it lay joined like a protected 
harbor of the sea. Before it was laid out in the spring of 1839, it was located by 
a special board of commissioners appointed by the territorial legislature of Iowa 
in 1838, as the county seat of Linn county, and was named in honor of General 
Francis Marion. 

David A. Woodbridge. who was appointed to superintend the work, and Ross 
McCloud, the first county surveyor, proceeded to lay out the town, and on December 
2, 1839, assisted by Hosea W. Gray and A. J. McKean as chain carriers, Elisha 
Kemp stake driver, and Ira Wilson flagman, and under the direction of David A. 
Woodbridge, agent, the town of Marion was platted on the west half of the north- 
west quarter of section six, township eighty-three, range six. and the east lialf of 
the northeast quarter of section one, township eighty-three, range seven. 

The town consisted of fifty-six blocks, 250 feet square. The lots were 60 by 
120 feet, and the alleys ten feet wide. The four streets that enclose the public 
square were laid out eighty feet wide, all other streets sixty feet wide. The lots 
on w-hich the court house and other county buildings now stand, were then 
reserved for public use, as was the park, consisting of the block directly north of 
that on wliieh the county buildings now stand, and block fifty-six. the southwest 
block of the plat, was reserved for a public cemeteiy. 

Isbell's Grove, now laiown as Irish Hill, lay to the southeast of the to^\^l plat 
like a beautiful emerald island cut off from the bod.v of timber lying south of it 
by a strip of prairie, where, in 1838, William K. Farnsworth had entered a claim. 
He was the first actual town settler, although James Preston and Prior Scott had 
entered a large tract of land east of Isbell's Grove about the same time, and a 
part of which lay open until the eighties, and was known as Scott's Prairie. 

Soon after the tomi was located, Luman ^I. Strong and James W. Bas.sitt 
located northwest of the town ; Rufus H. Lucore, west; John C. BeiTy and Hosea 
W. Gray, north ; James W. Willis, northeast : George W. Gray, south ; John 
ilargi-ave, northwest; and Aaron iloriarity, James and Henderson Smith on the 
land now owTied by Emmett Kemp ; James Blaekman. adjoining on the northeast; 
Samuel Ross, his mother and several brothers, adjoining the Willis place, later 
known as the E. A. Vaughn farm. 

Henry Thompson erected a mill thrw miles south on Indian creek. The tim- 
ber southwest and west was taken up in small parcels: and Ephraim P. Lewis, 
one of the second board of county commissioners, and A. B. ^lason settled betn'een 
^Marion and Cediir Rapids and were the fii"st settlers in that direction. All of 
these came to Iowa in 1839 ; and in the fall of that year the Brodies and Lever- 
iehes settled two miles northwest of town. A little later Norris Cone settled 
.southeast towards Moimt Vernon, and Norman, George, and John Elihu Ives, four 
miles east: and a large jiart of the Ives land is now owned by two sons of Elihu 
Ives, viz: John and Julius Ives. W. L. Winter and wife settled on Dry creek, 
















i 




\, 



V 

if 










HISTORY OF MARIOX, THE COUNTY SEAT 4(U 

northwest of Marion, in 1H42 ; and the wife, Clarissa D. Winter, eijjhty-eiglit years 
of age in March, 1910, with her mind unimpaired, and intelleet grown seemingly 
brighter with the years, is living with her daughter, Mrs. H. r.m- Taylor, in 
Marion. 

The Hi-st hovLse built in Marion, although then without the town plat, was that 
of Lumaii M. Strong, erected in 1839. It wjis also the first, tavern. It .stood 
on the Center Point road, now known as Central avenue, and occ\ipied the site 
where Alvin M. Grt)ldsberr>- built his home, which is now owned by J. H. Michel. 
The second house wa.s built the same year by Ilenn- Thompson and David A. 
Woodbridge, al.so outside the town plat, and on the site now occupied by the res- 
idence known for years as the II. P. Elliott home, on Twelfth street, just north 
of the Odd Fellows building. These men also l)uilt the first store, a log shanty, 
near where Charles A. Patten's residence now stands on north Eleventh street; 
and were licensed by the commissioners as follows: "Ordered, that Woodbridge 
and Thompson be allowed a licensi> to vend and retail foreign merchajidise at 
their store in Marion, for one year from the 9th day of October, 1839." In 1840 
Addison Daniels came to Marion on horseba<'k from Iowa City, set'king a business 
Im-ation. although there wa.s not a house nor tree within the city limits, just a sea 
of tall, wa\'ing. wild grass with cow-paths running here and there. Rut he con- 
tractt'd with Ilosea W. Gray for the erection of a store building 20x22 feet in 
size, and went to MiLscatine by horse and thence to St. Louis b.v boat, where he 
pun-hased a stock of goods and n'tumed to Marion. It took him about six months 
to make the trip, and when he returned he found his store room read.v, and three 
residences in the town proper, viz : that of George Greene, afterwards .iudge of the 
supreme court of Iowa, cjvpitalist. and later a prominent citizen of Cedar Rapids, 
on Main street west of Market street on the lot later occupied by the residence of 
Joseph Mentzer in the rear of C. F. Reichert's grocerj- store; that of Joseph W. 
Bigger, later a prominent farmer snuthea.st of Marion, where Dr. Bardwell lived 
so many years, and now occupied by Eliza Bardwell : and that of L. D. Phillips, 
built by Joseph W. Bigger, assisted by James E. Bromwell, as a hotel and known 
for many years a.s the American IToase. later as the Newhall, on the site now 
occupied by Ed. Sigf red's clothing store. 

The first store of Marion, in the city proper, was that of Addison Daniels, who 
continued in business for nearly half a centurj* with marked success. It stood on 
the site now occupied by the llome Baker>- of Mrs. Smith, on Tenth street. Mr. 
Daniels \vas Marion's first postmaster, a man of public spirit, sterling integrity, 
and unimpcjichable character. He died June 18, 1883. 

In the .spring of 1840. 0. S. Hall, a pioneer of marked christian charju-ter. built 
a one and a half storj- frame building .just north of the first store of Mr. Daniels, 
where he opened a hotel known ius the Iowa IIou.se. He also .served one tenn as 
county re<'order in 1843. He died in 1840, but the hotel was continuwl by his 
widow and son. 0. S. Hall, Jr.. .still livnng in Marion, until 1871, hut in later years 
in the large brick building in the same block at the comer of Tenth street and 
Eighth avenue. In the sjime spring the first .jail of the county was built, a log 
structure, on lot two. block thirty-six, and where the Catholie church now stands, 
at a co.st of .$63.">.00. It was built by William Abbe and Asher Edecrton. Wil- 
liam Abbe had removed to Marion from his claim near Mount Vernon on Abbe 
creek, which was named for him, and where the commissioners met to locat^^ the 
county seat, and which was also one of the first polling places of the county. The 
first court house was built on the northeast comer of the block occupied by the 
present county buildings. Here the first school was held in Marion. The build- 
ing was bought in 1845 for use as a .Methodist .-hurch. It was later occupied for 
many years by Leonard Stowe for a bakery and (rrocer>-, and has ree»»ntly been 
remodeled for residence flats. However, the county records show that the 
Methodists had made provision for a church building several years before, but 



462 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

probably by reason of the scarcity of money in those days, had been imable to 
build such an edifice as was required by a resolution of the coimty commissioners 
at their April term, 1842, which read as follows : "Ordered by the Board that the 
Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church of the Town of Marion be allowed 
and they are hereby authorized to purchase of the county agent lots number three 
and four in block number thirtj'-seven on condition that they pay said agent 
the sum of ten dollars and erect on said lots a good and substantial church building 
worth at least $1,500 withia two years; and the said agent is hereby empowered 
to execute the above sale. ' ' This description of the lots was doubtless wrong, for 
these were the lots where A. J. McKean built his home, where he lived imtil his 
decease. The lots intended, and where the first Methodist church was built, were 
lots one and two in bloc;k twenty-seven. The present court house was built in 
1841 by George W. Gray, contractor. 

In the spring of 1840 Hiram Beales built and operated a saw mill, if not the 
first, one of the first in the county, on Indian creek west of the town and on 
the west side of Indian creek, opposite the site of the present Howler Mill. In 
1841 Richard Thomas became a partner in this mill and mill stones were intro- 
duced for grinding grain. The first upper mill stone used in this mill has an 
interesting historj'. Ambrose Harland, once sheriff of Linn county, and who 
first lived at the place known later as the "Old Stone Barn," on the old road 
between Marion and Cedar Rapids, was a stone mason and built the first brick 
residence in Marion in 1842 for William H. Woodbridge. This house stood in the 
street, where now the Methodist parsonage stands, and was for years known as 
the Berrj- house. In 1884 Samuel Daniels, who settled in Marion after the war 
;ind was Linn county's third auditor, bought this Berry house, and by reason of 
it occupying a part of the street and thus disfiguring the block of which Mn 
Daniels o^\'ned the greater part, tore it do-ivn. As one of the comer stones of this 
house, ]Mr. Daniels found this first upper mill stone of the Beales and Thomas mill, 
which had in 1842 been replaced by a larger one, and has preserved it as a relic 
of early days. 

Richard Thomas, commonly known as "Uncle Dick." came to Marion in 1840. 
and was a remarkable character. His farm embraced what is now known as 
"Orchard Heights," one of the most beautiful additions of Marion. He was 
of southern birth, quaint, plain-spoken, energetic, and died in 1893 at the age of 
111 years. His wddow and daughter. Mar>- English, also a widow, occupy a 
beautiful home in "Orchard Heights" near the original building site of the 
old farm. 

In 1841 the first school house was built in Marion by .sul)seription, and on the 
site now occupied by the C. R. Fairfield Lumber Company 's office. It stood alone 
in the open prairie, and was surrounded by wild gra.ss fully five feet high. Mr. 
Higby was Marion's first school master. It was in this building that Rev. Mr. 
Emerson organized the first Methodist society. 

In 1838 the territorial legislature appointed Richard Knott, Lyman Dillon, 
and Benjamin Nye commi-ssioners to locate the "seat of justice" in Linn eoimty, 
and on the first Monday in Jlareh, 1839, two of .said commissionei-s, Richard Knott 
and Benjamin Nye, met at the house of William Abbe, on Abbe's creek, and chose 
the site of the town of Marion as the proper location for the county seat. 

In August, 1839, three commissioners were elected to act as fiscal agents of the 
county. The polling place was Westport, near the present site of Bertram, and 
Samuel C. Stewart, Peter McRoberts, and Luman M. Strong were elex>ted. This 
commission was invested with about the same powers as are now exercised by the 
board of supervisors of the county. They held their first meeting in Marion on 
September 9, 1839. H. W. Gray, the first appointed and first elected sheriflF of 
Linn county, proclaimed the board in session. Its first official act was the appoint- 
ment of John C. Berrj-, clerk. It next named the countj' seat, Marion. It next 



HISTORY OF MAHIOX. TUK COUNTY SEAT 463 

appointed A. J. McKiviii and William 11. Smith coustjibks. At iU; October ses- 
sion, 1839, it divided the county into three election precincts, \-iz: one at William 
Abbe's, on Al)be creek. kno\ni as the Supar Grove precinct : one at Marion, known 
as the Marion pnvinct; luid one at Michael Gr»'cn's, known as (irecn's Grove 
precinct. The Hrst election judges of Marion were James W. Hassitt, Ilenrj- 
Thompson, and Kufus H. Lucore. At this session James W. Willis was allowed 
$7.75 for five days' work mjikintr town stakes and !iaulin<j same, "tliree loads." 
The first road laid out was as follows, and ordered January 6, 1840: "Beginning 
at the county line west of Lathrup Olmsted's farm ; thence on the nearest and best 
ground to the town of Marion; thence to the rapids of Cedar river; thence to the 
county line on a direction to Iowa City, the seat of the Territorial government." 

We (juote one other entr>- of the coiuity commissioners made at the Januar}' 
term, 1840: "Ordered by the Hoard that James W. Willis be and is hereby 
allowed the privilege of cutting a sufficient amount of timber off from the quarter 
seetion of land on which the town of Marion is located to finish a certain frame 
for which he ha.s aln>ad.v got a part: provided, however, that he shall not cut any 
timber that is not included in the streets of said town. Said privilege is grimted 
in consideration of house rent and fuel for the Janujiry term of this board. 
1840." A verj- significant cntrv- was made by this board of commissioners at 
its April term, 1840. in which L\unan M. Strong, one of the commissioners, was 
granted a license to keep a grocery and "vend spiritous liquors at retail f()r one 
year at his house near Marion by paying into the countj- treasurj- the sum of 
$50.00." In a later record, and the only one referring to the claimant as a public 
offici'r. R. P. Lowe, district attorney for 1840, is allowed $73.00. 

Tlie county judge plan succeeded the commissioner s.v.stem of government in 
1851, and Norman W. Isbell was the first judge, and wa.s elected in 1851. He was 
succeeded in turn by J. M. Berry, Daniel Lothian, Johnston Elliott, and A. B. 
Duraont. The supervisor system, one from each towiiship of the county, by order 
of the legislature, supplanted the county judge in 1861 : and Marion wius repre- 
sented on this first board by A. J. Twogood. In 1871 the present system of 
county government by a board of three supervisors wius adopted. County Judge 
J. M. Berr>-. in 1855, in his ofTicial capacity, contracted for the erection of the 
present jail and tire proof building where the coiuity offices are now located, and 
this brought on the court house fight of 1855, when the issues were fairly joined 
in the contest for election to the county judgeship between J. M. Berrj', repre- 
senting Marion, and Rev. Elias Skinner, representing Cedar Rapids. Berry won 
by a himd.some majority. 

Ilosea W. Gray, a man of marked ability and prominent in the early history of 
Marion, was elected the first sheriff of Linn county. At the same elci-tion, to wit: 
in Augiust. 1830, Thomas W. Cami)bell was elect<*d county freiisurer; Sm-rates H. 
Trj'on, who was also Marion's first physician, county clerk : and G. II. Tryon, was 
either elected or appointed the first county recorder. Although it is well authen- 
ticated that Richard Osbom and Sarah Haines were maiTied in Linn ciuinty in 
1830. the first marriage in Marion and the strond license of rvcord in the county 
is that of James K. Bromwcll and Catherine (Jray. date August 2(5, 1841. This 
saintly pioneer died in Marion May 5, IftOO, after more than sixty years continuous 
residence in Marion and on his farm, one and a half miles east of the town, hon- 
ored and loved by all. The «unc year John Hunter was nuirried to Hannah 
Barbary Hines, and Charles Rowe to Phebe Putiuim, and Ans Safely to .Margaret 
Hiuiter. and Sanuiel Ross to Mary Vaughn, and John Mann to Mar>- Mann, and 
Julius Allen Peet to K.sfher Ann ('rowe. and Aaron Moriarity to Hannah lioss. 
and Joseph Crane to .\gncs Bogjird. 

Hosea W. Gray, who in the Civil war was captain of Company A. Si.xth Iowa 
Infantry, and Linn county's first sheritT. tiHik the first census of I/inn count.v in 
1840. which -showed a population of 1 ::7:! The vote at lln' first election in 1839 



464 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

showed thirty-two liallots cast. October 28, 1840, Peter Garrow, bora in Scot- 
land, renounced allegiance to Queen Victoria and declared his intention to become 
of citizen of the United States. The first divorce ca.se was filed ^lay 26, 1842. and 
entitled Dyer Usher vs. ^lar^- Ann Usher. At the September term, 1843. it was 
ordered dismi.ssed. The first divorce granted in Linn county was at the March 
term. 1844. of the district court, when Parthena E. Hewitt obtained a decree of 
divorce from her hu.sband. Oliver Hewitt. The title of the first case filed in the 
district court of Linn count}' is Richard Thomas vs. O. S. Hall, being an appeal 
case brought for trespass. After several continuances it was dismissed. George 
Greene, ]\Iarion 's first lawyer, was counsel for the plaintiff. William 6. Thomp- 
son was the first prosecuting attorney for what was called the second circuit, 
consisting of the coiuities of Cedar, Jones, and Linn, and of the eighth judicial 
di.striet after tlie establishment of the circuit court, in 1868. The first murder 
committed in Linn county occun'ed in Marion March 20, 1847. when James 
Reed — who then and for many years after occupied the farm later known as the 
Bachmau farm, on the old road about half way between Marion and Cedar Rapids, 
and whose house was destroyed by the toraado of 1860 — struck Nathaniel Car- 
nagj' with a sled stake, fracturing his skull, from which injin'ies he died two weeks 
later. Reed wa-s indicted but found not guilty by a .iury. 

The tornado of 1860, which passed through Linn comity on Sunday, June 3, 
started about six miles west of Marion. It struck the southwest part of the town 
but the only damage done was to a brick smoke house standing west of the house 
then occupied by Willard Harlan, now the home of J. Q. A. Button, the last house 
on the street car line east of Indian creek. The first deed recorded was for lots 
five and six, block eleven, Marion, and was executed by the county commissioners 
April 4, 1843, to Horace Metcalf. The second deed is to Addison Daniels. The 
consideration is nine dollars. It bears the same date and is for lots one and two. 
block fourteen, the present Clogston home, lot seven, block twelve, where the T. J. 
Davis building on Tenth street now stands, and lot eight, block thirteen, on a part 
of which the Fir.st National Bank now stands. The selection of these lots is good 
evidence of the business ability of Mr. Daniels in those early days. 

The plats of the towns of Marion and Cedar Rapids were recorded on the 
same day, to wit: April 3, 1843, "0. S. Hall, Recorder." In volume 216 on 
page 48. Recorder's office, is a record showing the organization of the Presby- 
terian society, on November 11, 1839. William Vaughn is named as one of the 
elders. 

A. J. McKean, who came to Linn county in 1839, helped lay out the town of 
Marion, was the first constable of Linn count>% and the first assessor for the whole 
county, bj' appointment in 1840. He served as clerk of the courts from 1854 to 
1872, and was one of ]\Iarion's most prominent citizens for over half a centurj'. 
His brother, Thomas J. McKean, was the first mayor of the town of Marion which 
was incorporated in 1865. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1859, serving 
until the spring of 1861, when he re-signed to enter the government army ser\'ice. 
having already served in the Florida and Mexican wars, and November 21, 1861. 
was appointed brigadier-general, and after a brilliant service in the Civil war was 
honorably discharged in 1865, as brevet major general. On September 5, 1848, 
he was married to Sarah T. Graj', who still survives him. is a i-esident of Marion, 
and still bright and active at the age of ninety years. 

One of the most prominent men in the early history of JIarion, and we might 
add of the county, was Samuel W. Durham. A courtly gentleman of the old 
school, honored and respected by everj' one who Imew him, he died at his home in 
Marion, May 2, 1909, at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. He was sheriff 
of Linn county from 1846-1848, county surveyor in 1841, .serving one term, in 
1851 ser\'ing one term, in 1871 serving two terms, and in 1889 serving two terms. 




JAMES E. HKOMWELL, SR. 



II IS Tom' OK MAinoX. TIIK COUNTY SEAT 405 

He was also a iirmuIkt of the first constitutional convention of Iowa, which con- 
vened at Iowa City October 7, 1844. 

George Greene, JIarion's first lawyer, and who built one of its first three 
residences, was the first ineinbcr of the General Asseinl)ly from Linn county. He 
also served in the coiuicil. now called the state senate, of tlic third legislative 
iissembly of Iowa, which convened at lJurlinfjton Xovcmber 2. 1S4<>. representing 
Cedar, Jones, and Linn counties. He also served in the fourth as.scndily, which 
convened at Iowa City December 6. 1841. 

The first court was held in Marion Octxiber 26, 184(1. and the following record 
was made: "Minutes of the District Court of Iowa Territory, within iind for the 
coimty of Linn : 
"Iowa Territory ] 

Linn County J 

"Pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the Territory of Iowa, approved July, 
1840, the District Court of the United S>tates. and also for the Territory of Iowa, 
met at Marion, in said county, on Monday the 2()th day of October, 1840. Pres- 
ent: Hon. Joseph Williams. Judtre of the Swond Judicial District for the Terri- 
tory'; W. G. Wotxlwanl, Es(|.. District Attorney of the I'nited Stat^-s for the 
District of Iowa ; R. P. Lowe, Es(i., prosecutint; attorney for Second Judicial 
District; Hosea W. Gray, Esq., Sheriff of Coiuity of Linn; Soi-rates II. Tryon, 
Clerk of the District Court; Ijawrenee Maloney. Marsliall of the Territory." 

The followinj; are the lists of the I'arly officers of Linn county, who were all 
residents of Marion : 

Sheriffs — Hosea W. Gray, 1840; Ambrose Harlan, 1844; Samuel W. Durham, 
1846 ;Aiubrose Harlan. 1847- Vincent Beall. 1850; Samuel Bnizleton. 1853; Levi 
11. Mason, 1855; Thomas J. McKean. 1S60; William W. Smith, LSIil ; O. O. Staneh- 
field, 1862; Iliel Hale, 1866; John Ilayzlctt, 1868; G. 1). (Mllilan. 1874. 

Clerks of District and Circuit Court.s loiin C. Hcrrv (Com.'s Clerk). 1S:}!»; 

S. II. Trvon, 1840; John C. Berry. 1844; Porter W. Earl. 1847; Iloseea W. Gray. 
1849; James ^L Bei-rj-, 1851; A. J. McKean. 1854; J. L. Crawford, 1873. 

Trca.s\irers and Recorders — Addison Daniels, 1841; O. S. Hall, 1844; John 
Zumbro. 1S44: O. S. Hall. 1845: P. W. Earl, 1846; William M. Harris, 1846: 
Isaac Cook. 1851 ; N. M. Day, 1855; William Cook, I860; James Johnston. 1864. 

Recorders after the offices of treasurer and recorder were separated — John J. 
Daniels, 1865; t"harles E. Putnam, 1873. 

Tra.sun^rs after offices were separated — R. T. Wilson. 1866; S. T. Berry, 
1874; R. M. Jaek.son. 1882. 

Auditors of the C.mnty — A. B. Duniont, 186f»: John P. Coulter, 1870; 
Samuel Daniels, 1876; Joseph Moorhcad, 1882: James E. Bromwell. 1888. 

The followinp is a list of the earlv State Senators: 1. M. Prcs-ton, 1852; 
William G. Thompson. 18.56; H. G. Angle, I860; .1. B. Younjr. 1864; Robert 
Smyth. 1868; E. B. Kephart. 1872. 

The followinp is a list of the early .iudpes of the Eighth Judicial District: 
Joseph Williams. 1840; Thomas S. Wilson. 1846: James B. Carleton. 1847: 
William Snivth. 18.53; Isaac C(H)k. 18.57; William E. Miller. 185!); Norman W. 
Isbell, 1S62: ('. H. Conklin. 1864: .V. -M. Hubbard. 1866; Jami>s H. Rothnn-k. 1867. 

Ira G. Fairbanks was the first supcrntcndiiit of county schools. 

In the first constitutional convention which was held at Iowa City October 7. 
1844, and whose work was rejected by thi- pt^oplc at the polls Autnist 4. 1845. Linn 
county was n-pn-sented by fhomjis J. .McKean. Sauuiel W. Durham, and Liiman 
M. Strong. At the se<-ond one, Iwld at Iowa City May 4. 1846. and whose work 
wa-s endorsed by a snnall majority at flic election held .\\igust 3. 1S46. Socrat.'s H. 
Tryon represented Linn and Benton counties. 



466 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

The first estiite ministered upon in Linn county was that of James Trans, who 
died in December, 1839. James Doty was appointed administrator February 15, 
1840. His bond was for $200. His bondsmen were Jacob Leabo and John Stam- 
baugh. Israel Mitciiell, who had been appointed by Governor Lucas, in 1839, 
was the .iudge of probate. It was this same Judge Mitehell who located the first 
town in Linn county, viz : that of Westport, near the present site of Bertram, and 
who was the orator of the day at the first Fourth of July celebration in Linn 
county, held at Westport in 1839. 

The second estate appearing of record was that of William jVIarion, who died 
July 4, 1840, and of which William Abbe was appointed administrator in 1841. 

The third was the estate of JMartin Martindale, who died in February of 1841, 
and of whose estate William Garrison was appointed administrator. 

The following is the record of the first coffin made in Linn countv : "Be it 
remembered that on the 21st day of Jime, A. D. 1841, James E. Bromwell filed 
his account in the Court of Probate against the estate of Martin Martindale, 
deceased, in the words and figures, to wit : 

"To J. E. Bromwell, Dr. 
' ' To one white walnut coffin, $12.00 ' ' 

Marion was the home for years of thi*ee ]\Iexiean war veterans, who were also 
veterans of the Civil war, viz : Thomas J. McKean, G. A. Gray, both deceased, and 
Samuel B. Thompson, now past ninety years of age and living with his daughter, 
Mrs. Nellie Schimmerhorn, of Kansas City. 

Marion was incorporated in 1865. Its first mayor was General Thomas J. 
McKean. The other officers were : recorder, G. A. Gray ; trustees, D. H. Mc- 
Danel, who died in Chicago and whose widow is now living in Cedar Rapids; 
S. W. Rathbim, still living in IMarion and editor and proprietor of the Marion 
Register, which was established as the Prairie Star in 1852 by A. Hoyt; G. F. 
Woods, who died in Marion some years ago ; 0. C. Wyman, now a merchant prince 
of Minneapolis ; and Dr. N. W. Owen, who died in 1880. 

The Marion fire department was organized in 1874 and consisted of the 
Phoenix engine company and the J. C. Davis hook and ladder company. D. P. 
Thurber was elected the first foreman of the Phoenix company, and A. J. Keye.s 
of the hook and ladder companj'. The first engine house was the old Baptist 
church which stood on the site of the present C, M. & St. P. depot. Such was the 
beginning of the later noted Marion Volunteer Fire Department, with its matchless 
Mentzer Hose Company, which as a drill corps, under the captaincy of James E. 
Bromwell, for twenty years, in the state of Iowa and elsewhere, challenged all 
militaiy and civic companies, and met all challengers in competitive contests, 
winning over fifty first prizes, cups, and purses, acting as special escort to Gov- 
ernor Cummins at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, and winning over all 
contestants at the National Firemen's Tournament of the Trans-Mississippi 
Exposition, held at Omaha in 1898, and retiring without a single defeat as a drill 
coi"ps after its first three years, although as a fire company it is .still active and 
efficient and the i)ossessor of a beautiful home of its own on Seventh avenue in 
Marion, the lower story being used as a hose house and armorj'. and the upper 
stor>- for reception and club rooms. 

In 1864 the Dubuque and Southwestern Railroad, rimniug from Farley to 
Cedar Rapids, was built into Marion, and in 1872 the Sabula, Ackley & Dakota 
Railroad — now the C, M. &. St. P. — connected Marion with Chicago. Here it 
terminated until it was extended we.st to Council Bluffs in 1880, and south to 
Kansas City in 1882. 

Marion was especially fa^'ored in its early liistory, as it is today, by competent 
and popular physicians. Of th<'s(^ there were three, probably best laiown, who 
are worthy of mention, viz: Drs. Tiios. S. Bardwell, Henry M. Ristine, and N. W. 



HISTORY OF MAiUON. THP: COUNTY SEAT 467 

Owen. Dr. Thomas S. Bardwell came to Marion with liis father, Ur. Leonani 
Bardwell, in 1841. He .studied medicine with his father, and after uttendintr 
lectures in St. Louis began practice in Marion in ISoO. lie was a natural doctor, 
brinjring into his practice not only a kiiuwledtje of medicine but that intuition 
and instinctive comprehension of tlie law of cau.se and etVect its a|i|)lied to the 
human .system which mark the {jenius in mati'ria medica and surgery. He wa.s 
a great hearted man, kind, generous, charitable, a devoted son and iin>ther, a 
loyal friend and citizen. He died in Marion in 1895. 

Henry M. Ri.stine came to Marion in 184'2. He, too, was a ma.stcr in the 
ministry of relief to human sutYcring. His genial presence and cheerful and 
encouraging words added much to the magic of his medicine. His friends were 
legion. He was welcomed to the homes where he was called as a physician as a 
beloved brother, and was always a comfort and a ble-ssing in the sick room. In 
the early days and to the second generation his name was a hou.sehold word 
throughout Linn county. He moved to Cedar Rai)ids in 1875. where, <Towned 
with success and honors in his clio.sen calling, he died in 1897. 

Norman W. Owen came to .Marion in IS'id. He continued the study of med- 
icine, which he had begiun in the east, under Dr. Henrj- M. Ristine, and graduated 
from Rush Medical College in 18C2. He at once entered into a partnership with 
Dr. Ristine, and during his absence in the Civil war, he drove almast night and 
day, attending the large pnictice which he was left alone to care for. He was a 
most skilful and successful physician. He united with a wide knowlinlgi' of dis- 
eases and their remedies, the tenderness and skill of the trained nui-sc. .\n earn- 
est student, of analytical yet comprehensive mind, he became a pionet^r in Uie dis- 
coverj- of new remedies for humiui ailinent.s. and while he formulated and com- 
pounded many preparations now of common use. his greatest achievement was 
the discoven.- and composition of Owen and Chamberlain's — now Chamber- 
lain's — Coiic. Cholera, and Diarrhoea Remedy, a world-wide panacea, of which 
Dr. Owen was the .sole and undisputed originator. This alone places him among 
the "immortals" in the realm of medicine. He died in Marion in 1880. 

Among the early great financiers of Marion — • and we might say of Iowa and 
the west — was Redmond D. Stephens. He came to Marion in 185.^. He was a 
lawj'er, teacher, and scholar, as well as a banker. He obtained the third charter 
ever issued for a national bank in Iowa, and instituted the First National Bank 
of Marion in 1863. He was one of the county supervisors in 1867. and was cleetetl 
to the .stjite legislature in 1870. He organized tlie Menhants National Hank of 
Cedar Rapids in 1881, of which, as well as of the First National Bank of .Marion, 
he was president when he died in t!edar Rapids in 1883. when' he then r.*sided. 
His rare acumen, keen perception, unerring judgment, and almost pn)phetin 
endowment, mastered even,' business enterpri.se he undertook and won for him the 
merited distinction with which success ever crowTis the union of genius and 
studiousness. of being enthroned, honored, and acknowledged as king in the chosen 
reiilm of his life work. 

No early historj' of Marion would Ix^ complete without mention of that 
brilliant coterie which illumined Linn county's seat <>f .justice and as pillars and 
ornaments of the law established and adoni.'d the now famous bar of Linn county. 
Nothing in later years has compared with the gladiatorial conf4'sts of the early 
years when true forensic orator>-, keenest wit. and brilliant satire inndi- forever 
famous the legal arena within the old court house at Marion. What memories 
iind achievements cluster about the names of Corbett, Hubbard. PresUm, Isbell. 
Thompson. Young and Smyth. 

Nathaniel M. Hul>bard, the greatest legal fjcneral of his time, who served one 
year as judire of the eighth district in 186.^. was keen, alert, tm-tful, n>soun-efnl. 
and tireless. He won marked distinction in his pr<»f«>j«i<>n, and died in Cedar 
Rapids a few years ago. as chief coun.s.'! for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. 



468 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

Xorman W. Isljell, student, scholar, interpreter of the law. judge of the eighth 
district in 1862, died in the prime of life, a great mind in a frail body. 

J. B. Young, brilliant, scholarly, eloquent, came to Marion in 1853; was 
elected prosecuting attorney for Linn county in 1854. He served in the state 
legislature iu 1861, in the state senate in 1863, and was re-elected in 1866. He 
was army paymaster, with the rank of major, during the Civdl war, ele<!tor-at- 
large in 1868, and United States pension agent in 1869. Impetuous, fiery, gen- 
erous, of marked aptness and ability, he honored and adorned his chosen 
l)rofes.sion. 

"William Sm.yth came to Iowa in 1843 and to Marion in 1846 — ■ the year he was 
admitted to the bar. He was elected prosecuting attorney for the county in 1847, 
appointed judge of the fourth district in 1853, elected in 1854, and re-elected in 
1856, but resigned in 1857, and with his brother, Robert Smyth, and A. J. Two- 
good established the first bank in Linn eoimty, later known as the Twogood and 
Elliott bank of Marion. In 1858 he was chairman of the committee of three to 
revise and codify the laws of the state of Iowa, and the criminal code of 1860 is 
largely his work. In 1862 he was commissioned colonel of the Thirty-first Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry-, serving until 1864. He then formed a law partnership with 
J. B. Young, and was actively engaged in the practice until 1868, when he was 
elected to congress. He was renominated in 1870, but on September 30. 1870, 
before the election, died at his beautiful surburban home adjoining the city of 
Marion, now owned by the Sisters of Jlerey, and knowTi as St. Joseph's Academy. 
A man of sound judgment, a lawyer of merit, a judge of ability, a statesman of 
fidelitj' and purity, he yet stood pre-eminently before all as a man of integrit}', 
honor, and character, the true and highest type of the christian gentleman. 

I shall now mention as the last, the two greatest la'wj'ers of the early days of 
Marion, judging from their practice, marked success, and general recognition, 
viz: Isaac M. Preston, and William G. Thompson. 

Isaac ]\I. Prestfln came to Marion in 1842. He was elected probate judge of 
Linn county in 1842, appointed district attorney for the eighteenth judicial dis- 
trict of Iowa in 1845, again elected probate judge in 1847, the same year was 
appointed United States district attorney for Iowa by President Polk, was elected 
to the .state legislatui'e in 1848, and elected the first state .senator in 1852 for Linn, 
]3enton, and Tama counties. He moved to Cedar Rapids in 1878, where he 
died in 1880. He was possessed of a strong mind, his reasoning was logical, and 
his analysis keen. He aspired to greatness in his profession above all else. He 
was pronounced by competent judges the greatest criminal lawyer of Iowa in his 
day. Rugged, determined, persistent, tireless, profound, thoroughly versed in 
the common law, of broad conception, a close student and able judge of human 
nature, deliberate, careful, prudent; in speech plain, masterful, convincing; he 
having reached a conclusion in law or taken a position legally or morally, was 
seldom if ever compelled to compromise or retreat. 

William G. Thompson came to Marion in 1853 and fii-st began the practice of 
law with 1. M. Preston. He was prosectiting attorney in 1854, editor of the 
Marion Register (which he bought to insure a republican paper for Linn county) 
in 1855 and 1856, state senator in 1856 and 1858, major of the Twentieth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, serving until 1864, elector-at-large on the republican ticket 
in 1864, district attorney of the eighth judicial district from 1867 to 1874, chief 
ju.stice of Idaho in 1878, elected to congress in 1879, and refused to accept a re- 
nomination. In 1884, to save the republican legislative ticket, he wa.s nominated 
for the state legi.slature and elected. He was appointed judge of the eighteenth 
district in 1894, and was elected in the fall of the same year, re-elected in 1898 
and 1902. He is now living in retirement with his son. J. M. Thompson, at his 
beautiful home. "The Elms," on the boulevard between Marion and Cedar Rapids. 
.Major Thompson was naturall.v posse.s.sed of the elements of true greatness, viz: 




T. M. SlNi I. A IK 




J. U. STKWAKT 



lIlSTUin' OF MAUIUX, TlIK COUNTY SEAT 4(i5» 

simplii-ity, sympathy, generosity, aud charity. Whilr hi- was m trutli tlic "i)o<>r 
man's friend." he was more trnly everybody's friend. His wjus a brilliant mind, 
a tender lieart, an eUxinent yet poifjiiaut tonjrue. Of (piick intuition, forceful 
expression, and impjussioned oratory, he carried .juries with tlie force of the moun- 
tain torrent. His frreat tender heart was the repository of anybody's troubles or 
sorrows or legal ditliculties "without money and without price," if needs be. As 
a lawyer he was comprehensive, ingenious, and aggressive. As a judge, mcrcifnl. 
conscientious, and .just. The ecpiitable appealed to him in every branch of the 
law. No truer friend, no more loyal partisan, no more zealous advocate, ever 
stood nx'k boiuid, inichanjrcable. antl immovable as William G. Thompson always 
stxiod without malice or offense. Devoted to his home, liis wife, and tmly son, 
elieerful. sunn .v. optimistic, (uicrriiii: in his mca.surement of men and motives, 
eharitnble and forgiving l)eyond belief, honored mid honorable, commonplace and 
companionable, always kind and considerate and helpful, great hearted, of noble 
soul, and of almost divine compa.s.si(m. Judge William G. Thompson has already 
erected his moniunent of Christlike deeds, and his sepulchre will be the inner 
shrines of the hearts of all who knew him. 

The character of the early settlers of Marion was of the highest type. Little 
wonder, then, that it liius grown into a rity of schools and churches, that it.s moral 
atmosphen» has been fairly free from the fetid breath of vice and crime, and that 
its intellectual, spiritual, and social ideals have been largely realized in its system 
of schools, number and qualit.v of its churches and church membership, and its 
unexcelled fraternal organizations, literary and musical clubs, and societies. Of 
ideal l(M'ation. modern and progressive, its water supply direct from the noted 
Bowman springs, dean and wholesome, it.s people contented and prosperous, 
never destined, under the sluidow of Cedar Rapids, to be a great city, luit uni()ue. 
beautiful, the county seat of the great county of Linn, undoubtedly the priz*- 
winning .slogan of Cedar Rapids, with Marion substituted, would be acceptable 
to everv resident: "Mnricm suits me." 



CHAPTER XLIV 
Linn County in War 

The men and women of Linn county have always been patriotic. They liave 
responded promptly and cheerfully to every call to arms. One of the earliest 
settlers in the county had served in the Revolutionary war. Nathan Urown, who 
came here in 1839 and for whom Brown township was named, at the early age of 
sixteen years joined the American forces. 

T. J. McKean, George A. Gray, A. R. Sausman, William Hampton, S. D. 
Thompson, "Democ" Woodbridge, and a Mr. Courtney served in the war with 
Mexico. These men all enlisted from this county, entering the service in June, 
1847. J. J. Snouffer, who came to the county in the early days and who long was 
an important figure in the business and political life of Cedar Rapids, was a 
veteran of this same war. 

It is not out of place here to say a word regarding T. J. McKean, the onl^^' 
man from the comity who received the commission of brigadier-general in the 
Civil war. General McKean was born in Pennsylvania in 1810 and entered West 
Point in 1827, graduating with honors in 1831. He immediat-t-ly entered the ser- 
vice with the rank of lieutenant, and was stationed in Louisiana. Resigning his 
commission, for a time he followed the profession of civil engineer. He came 
to Marion in 1840, and when war with IMexico was declared he raised a squad of 
six men as above and joined Company K, 15th Regulars, the only company sent 
out from Iowa. He served in the Mexican war for a year and a half and then 
returned to Marion. At the breaking out of the Cival war he was holding the 
office of sheriff of the county. He was not able to resist the call to arms and sur- 
rendered his office to accept a post as paymaster in the Union army. He en- 
tered upon his duties early in 1861. In the fall of that year Governor Kirkwood 
proposed his name for a brigadier-general. He received that commission 
and served his country with ability. 

On April 12, 1861, Sumter was fired upon. On the 15th, President Lincoln 
issued a call for 75,000 ninety-day men. It was erroneously believed that our 
internal difficulties could be adjusted in that period. Within thirty days after 
the president's call had reached Iowa this state had a regiment in the field. In 
that regiment, the First Iowa, Linn county had a full company under the com- 
mand of Capt. T. Z. Cook. 

Before giving a detailed account of the various companies that served in the 
Civil war from Linn county, it may be well to treat briefly of some of the stirring 
events that were witnessed in the county in the early days of the war. 

The board of supervisors early held a special session to provide means for the 
relief of the families of such men as were willing to volimteer for field service. 
At the September, 1861, session of that body the following resolution was adopted: 
"That the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors issue an order or orders for the 
benefit and relief of any of our volunteers now in the United States service, upon 
the certificate and approval of the resident Super\'isor of the township in which 
the family or applicant resides." 

The press and pulpit of the county strongly advocated the cause of the Union. 
No conservative position on the burning question was taken by either. Many 
are the emphatic appeals to the loyal spirit of the countj'. In its issue of April 
18, 1861, the Cedar Valley Times has this to say: 



LINN COUNTY IN WAR 471 

"More than ever, it is now the duty of every true man to respond to the call 
of his country. Party ties are broken, party divisions forgotten, in the common 
necessity which summons everj' true American to the standard of his country — 
to the defence of our Union, our Constitution, our libt^rty and our rii,'ht.s. . . 
Every man to his post, that post the support of the Administration." 

In the same issue there was a call for a meeting on that evening to olitain an 
expression of the feelings of the people. This metHing was held in Carpenter's 
Hall, Cedar Rapids, and was characterized hy great enthusiasm. Dr. J. II. Cara- 
burn presided and Isaac Van Meter act«d as si'cretary. These gentlemen, to- 
gether with I'orter W. Karle, William Greene. II. G. Angle, Dr. Taylor, E. X. 
Bates, W. II. Merritt, and others gave stirring talks. At this meeting a despatch 
was read from Gov. Samuel J. Kirkwood, as follows: 

"If Linn county shall tender me a full company of s«»venty-cight good men, 
properly offieered. by Thursday of next week, I will offer the company as one of 
the regiments required of this state by the President of the United States." 

A committee was appointed to push the nuitter of raising a company. On this 
committee were E. N. Bates, T. Z. Cook, W. 11. Merritt. J. II. Stibbs and W. H. 
Sweit^er. Twenty-five names were signed that night to a muster roll. 

Other towns of the eoimty were not behind (Jedar Rai>ids in enthusiasm. On 
the evening of April 19th a mass meeting was held at Kingston, with J. II. Elder in 
the chair. He at once offered his purse to its limit for the cause. Here Rev. A. 
G. Eberhart. and Me.ssi-s. Churchill, Stewart and Dctwiler were the speakers. 
Eight men added their names to the roll of Cedar Rapids volunteers. In Marion 
a meeting of equal enthusiasm was held and a full company volunteered. By 
noon of the lf>th thirt>--tive men had signed a muster roll in Mt. Vernon. A great 
crowd gathered in the chapel of Western college on the evening of the l!)th. 
Young men, .students and others, were urged to enroll for the honor of Linn 
county and the cau.se of the union. Nine were added to the list. The meeting 
also contributed five dollare to aid in purchasing bibles for the company — the 
boys from Western going with those from this city. On Monday the 22d, this 
contingent came to the city, and on the same day twenty-seven of the Mt. Venioii 
volunteers were accejited for the first company from Linn county. Captaincy of 
the company, K, First Infantry, fell upon T. Z. Cook. 

In Buffalo township there were but twelve voters, and .just half of these volun- 
teered for anny .senice. At Palo a spirited union meeting was held, and at once 
thirt.v-five men pledged their lives to the cause. 

The boys at once began drilling under J. J. Snouffer, a veteran of the Mexican 
war. Dr. S. D. Carpenter was made quartermaster of the regiment. On Satur- 
day. May 4. a tlag was presented Ui the company. On Ma.v 6 Company K left 
for Clinton. Following is roster of the comi>any. at the time it left Cedar Rapids : 
Captain, T. Z. Cook; first lieutenant, J. C. Marvin-, second lieutenant. Robert 
Stinson ; orderly, J. H. Stibbs; second sergeiint, J. Van Meter; third sergeant, E. 
Coulter; first corporal, R. L. Wilson; second corporal. J. II. Hammond; third 
corporal, E. L. Carpenter; fourth corporal, Jos. McClelland. Privates — Qeo. 
H. Angell, Geo. W. Aviesworth. John Agler. Geo. C. Burkmeister. Ben.j. E. Butler. 
A. C. Blood, II. II. B.iyes, H. C. Bates. John .M. Cha.se. Henry P. Covert.son. W. J. 
Conley. Paul Carj)enter, B. Franklin Cook. A. D. Collier. Wilson Certain, A. J. 
Churchill, .1. M. Clark. Kdward Calder. Joseph B. Daniels, John E. Daniels. 
Samuel Daniels, Addison Davis. Robert P. Dewe.v, John J. Derr>', Chas. W. Es- 
gate, B. E. Eberhart. Wm. J. Eekles. Stuart Envin, E. P. Fellows, John Fitzger- 
ald, J. B. Fisher, J. D. Ferguson. Andrt>w Geddes. Geo. Granger, Andrew Har- 
mon, Iliel Hale. F. W. Hollingrane. J. J. Ilollnn, P.-rry Hoyt, W. P. Hubbard, 
Peter Hanger. Charles A. Harper. R. W. Hayzleft. J. C. Hayes. Nathaniel John- 
.son, Geo. A. John. W. B. Jacobs. Frank Klump, J. H. Little." G. C. Miller. Philip 
Murdock, J. C. Morehead, II. J. McMiinus, John McGowen, K. R. MeKei>, .Michael 



472 HISTORY OP LINN COUNTY 

Mentz, D. W. Prescott. N. Russell, G. RifenstaM, H. W. Ross, J. W. Robinson, K. 
M. Rogers, A. T. Rigby. W. D. Robins. E. \V. Stewart. R. B. Stewart, James O. 
Stewart, Henry Shaffer. John S. Starkweather, L. E. Stevins. J. W. Smith, C. C. 
Smith, E. B. Soper, J. M. Secrist. Geo. F. Schoonover. J. B. Stine, F. J. Shuey, M. 
Taylor, E. Thompson. G. P. Vandever, J. N. Van Arsdel, L. P. Winterstein, C. 
Wynn, "William Walt. D. H. Wilson, Geo. H. Yager, L. J. C. Ziengenfus. 

The regimental officers were J. F. Bates, Dul)uqiie. colonel ; W. H. ^lerritt. 
Cedar Rapids, lieutenant-colonel ; A. B. Porter, ^It. Pleasant, major. 

The company before the close of its services endured many hardships. It took 
part in the skirmish at Forsythe on July 20. On the evening of the 9th of August 
the First Iowa, luider command of Lieut.-Col. Merritt joined the other forces at 
Springfield, under Gen. Lyon. Marching to within three miles of the enemy's 
camp at Wilson's Creek, the attack was begun at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 
10th. It was a severely contested engagement. At this battle Gen. Lyon w'as 
killed, while personally leading the First Iowa. Victory was with the Union 
army and pursuit of the enemy was continued until nightfall. Following is the 
report made by Captain T. Z. Cook of casualties sustained by his company : 

"Killed — Private Perry Hoyt. Seriously wounded — E. Coulter, leg; Henry- 
Shaffer, leg and arm; John Stine. leg and breast: E. R. ilcKee, arm; W. D. 
Robins, leg; Samuel Daniels, leg. Slightly wounded — J. 0. Stewart, leg; John 
Fitzgerald, face ; Joseph Hollan, foot ; J. IM. Chase, back ; George F. Schoonover, 
arm badly bruised by grape shot. Sergeant Coulter and Privates Shaffer and 
.Stine were left at Springfield. Isaac Van Meter, .second sergeant, and John H. 
Stibbs, sergeant, particularly distinguislied themselves for coolness and braverj-. 
T. Z. Cook, captain." 

This battle really ended the service of Company K. The regiment was mus- 
tered out at St. Louis August 25 and started at once for home. On the evening 
of August 26 the volunteei*s returned to Cedar Rapids. The Kingston Guards, 
of eighty men, with a local company of about the same number, furnished an 
escort and headed by the mayor and council met the train at the depot. Five 
thousand people were estimated in the gathering. The dwellings and stores were 
illuminated in honor of the return. A procession was formed and marched to the 
same place where a few months before the flag liad been presented. On behalf 
of the city iSIayor Bishop voiced its welcome to the volunteers. Judge Isaac Cook 
supplied a little more speech-making and a supper followed of quality to make 
these soldiers forget all hardships of camji and march. 

In other portions of the county the enthusiasm was as great as it was in Cedar 
Rapid.s. The Linn County Rcgisfir of A]u-il 20. 1861, in announcing the com- 
mencement of hostilities stated that "already, some seventy-five persons, in the 
vicinity of Marion alone, have signified their intention to voliuiteer luider the 
call of President Lincoln." In its issue a week later the same paper said that 
"on every corner the people are assembled, in squads of a dozen or more, discuss- 
ing the chances of the conflict. Men in the country leave their plows, and rush 
into town, to inquire about the news." 

In the Sixth Infantry, which was mustered in July 6, 1861. Company A was 
entirely from this county. It was organized at JNIarion. The regiment was mus- 
tered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21. 1865. It saw some hard battles, sev- 
eral of its officers being killed in action, and eighteen woimded. Of the enlisted 
men 274 were killed or died in the service, and 331 were wounded in action. It 
is said tliat this regiment suffered more casualties than any other regiment from 
Iowa. The regiment suffered severely at Shiloh. IMis.sion Ridge. Resaca, Dallas. 
Kenesaw Movmtain, and Jackson, ]\Iiss. 

Its first captain was Ilosea W. Gray, who was succeeded by Tarlt(m Caldwell. 
Willard H. Harland, and Rodney E. Barker, who served as captains at different 
periods. A. L. Ingram, who entered the company as a private, was first lieuten- 




COL. T. Z. COOK 



LINN COUNTY IN WAR 47:} 

ant. at the tinu- of mustirmj; out. Other well known names amonp the officere of 
this eonipany are those of Georjie A. Gray. W. .M. llarlieson. A. P. Alexander, 
Samuel I). Sprinper. ('. A. Huston, (,'ha.s. L. Hyam. Amoiifr tlie iiiemliei-s of the 
eompany are fount! the names of T. II. Alexander, Daniel I{. Kinley. Chas. Kobins. 
S. A. Stearns, D. F. Stinson. 

George yi. Holmes, of this eounty. entered as ser|?ejint of this regiment, and 
was promoted from time to time until he heeame captain of Company K on July 
30, 18(53, resiirninL' October 17. 1864. 

In the Eighth Infantry Joseph C Stoddard, yet a resident of Cedar Rapids, 
was eommissioned adjutant November 15, 186;'). having been promoted from 
sergeant-major. Among thos*^" from this eounty in this regiment may be noted 
Jno. M. Dawley, J. H. Gardner, Hiram Inks. Wm. II. Ostrander, David G. Usher 
Homer H. Phillips, D. W. Yount. 

The county was also represented in the Ninth Infantrj-, being espef:ially strong 
in Company K, in which Abraiiam Bowman was commissioned second lieutenant 
and promoted to the eajjtaincy on Jiiiniary 9, 1864. It.s first ca|)tain was David 
Carskaddon. afterwards colonel of the regiment. Among the familiar names in 
this eompany we find those of David Bowman. Jas. C. M()n>head, Oliver H. Cone, 
John Cone. John S. MeKee, J. M. Burkhart. W. S. Dingman, John W. Gray, I. 
N. Lutz, A. R. \Vhitene<'k. The compan>- was organized in Marion and mustered 
into the service July 23. 1861. 

In the Eleventh Infantry thi'se names are noted: Hobt. L. Wilson. Samuel 
II. Harrison, ('has. W. .Mason, Wm. II. McRoberts. Wm. Burge. Henry .M. Cook. 
Jno. Coburn. John Elder. E. P. Listabarger, Wm. Mit<-hell. Jas. D. .Mcliobert.s. 
And. \V. SaHey, Thos. Strang, John B. Stine. Geo. W. Sparks, Samuel Sliafer. 
Wm. A. Thompson. Company K of this regiment was organized in Cedar Rapids, 
John C. Marvin, captain. It was mustered in July 23, 1861. 

Company D, Twelfth Iowa Infantry, was captained by John H. Stibbs. The 
regiment was organized at Dubu<|Ue and mustered into the service .November 2"). 
1861, with Joseph P. WimkIs. a West Pointer, as colonel : John P. Coulter of Cedar 
Rapids, lieutenant-colonel, and S. D. Brodtbeck. major. The Twelfth was then 
ordered to St. Louis. The Linn county i-oin|)any was organized in Cedar Rap- 
ids, and mustered in October 26, 1861. 

First of the year 1862 found seventeen members of the company in hospitals. 
A malignant outbreak of measles at that time caused many deaths in the Twelfth 
and other regiments. 

During the week ending January lii. 1862, Capt. Stibbs. in a letter to bis 
brother in Cedar Rapids, re])orte(i that six of his men had died in hospital. These 
were William H. Webster. William L. Dailey. John L. Jaipies. John S. Lee. .Ia.s- 
per Cynfi* "nd Henry Ilaradon. Seventeen others were in various hospitals at 
St. Louis. On Saturday, Januarj- 11. the regiment was ordered to be ready to 
start for Kentucky on the l.")th, but bwause of ice in the river, these orders were 
countermanded. On the 27th it was ordered to reixirt to Gen. (Jrant at Cairo. 
From thence the regiment wa.s sent to the mouth of the Cumberland river, and 
established its eamp in the field. On February 5. it joined the erpedititm against 
Fort IIenr>'. 

The company was at Ft. Donelson when it capitulated. Tlu' ngiment re- 
mained at Fort Donelson until March 12, when it was moved to Pitt.sburg Land- 
ing. On the evening of the 0th of April news was received of a great battle at 
Pitt.sburg Landing, in which the Twelfth Iowa had share. It was only kniown 
that slaughter had been immense, and \uitil full details were received the anxiety 
in Cedar Riipids can lx» imagined. Yet how slow this news was in coming nmy be 
judged from an editorial note in the Cnlnr Vnllrti Timrs for .\pril 17: "Tliree 
of our Iowa regiment.s — the Eighth. Twelfth and Fourteenth — were cut ofT and 
taken prisoners while bravely defending their flag aiirl the i_'lory cif tlnlr .•,,nntr\ . 



474 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

They fought like tigers. We are not yet able to publish full lists of losses, and 
the anxietj- so long felt must continue. ' ' 

The report made by Lieutenant-Colonel Coulter gave the following returns for 
Company D : Killed — First Lieutenant James B. Ferguson ; Privates Daniel 
Luther and James P. Ayres. Wounded — • Sergeant J. M. Clark, Corporal Jo- 
seph Stibbs, H. C. Morehead and H. Panborn, all slightly; Privates J. 6. Clark 
and Frank Kenchin, severely. R. C. Cowell and Ed. H. Bailey, slightly. Missing 
— (prisoners) — Capt. J. H. Stibbs, Second Lieutenant Hiel Hale, Orderly Ser- 
geant R. Hilton ; Corporals H. W. Ross and J. J. Broughton ; Privates L. M. 
Ayres, Ed. Buttolph, Samuel Baumgardner, Thomas Barr, J. W. Burch, S. Birch, 
P. Brennan, D. L. Conley, D. Conley, P. Dubois, S. A. Flint, W. A. Flint, A. J. 
Frees, C. Ferrerbend, H. Grass, P. Gephart, A. Hill, R. L. Johnson, Eli King, 
William Lee, John Luther, T. J. Le%vis, Wm. B. Lutz J. Lanagan, E. B. Martin, 
A. J. Milen, D. W. Minor, R. McClain, J. Nicholas, J. 0. Sartwell, D. Sivets, J. 
Scott, L. Snell, R. K. Soper, A. A. Stewart, J. M. Garponning, W. H. Trowt- 
bridge, W. Whitenack, J. J. Whittam, J. Wagner, J. Craft, F. Curren, R. P. 
Zuver, A. Mclntyre. 

Lieutenant Jason D. Ferguson, one of the killed, was at the outbreak of the 
war a student in Cornell College. He was one of that gallant band who left their 
studies to take up men's work. He was a member of Company K, First Iowa, 
serving throughout the brief but arduous campaign in which that regiment par- 
ticipated. His efforts were untiring in organization of Company D, of the 
Twelfth. 

But the losses of Lion county soldiers were not confined to those of Company 
D, of the Twelfth Iowa in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Quartermaster ilor- 
timer A. Iligley sent back to friends in this city, a list of those in Company A, 
Fifteenth Iowa, there killed and wounded. Among the killed were Pat H. Ken- 
nedy and Wm. W. Wood, privates, both of Cedar Rapids. Wounded, Corporal 
Jolm Kimbro. in arm, severely; privates, Elisha Hopkins, severelj'; Charles 
Stewart, slightly; Jacob Brown, severely; Newton Dawson, and Henry Biinn, 
sUghtly, all being from Linn county. 

The Twelfth Iowa regiment was mustered out and the members from this 
county returned home during the last week of Januarj'. Company D, enlisted 
in 1866, came home with the following Cedar Rapids sur%'ivors: S. R. Burch, 
adjutant ; Homer Morehead, regimental q\iartermaster ; John Clark, captain ; EH 
King, first lieutenant; N. G. Price, orderly sergeant; H. Pangborn, John Burch, 
I. G. Clark, B. P. Zuver, sergeants ; J. Lanagan. John Luther, R. C. Cowell, Josiah 
Scott, R. L. Jolmson, P. Brennan, A. A. Stewart. T. Lewis, corporals: S. Baum- 
gardner, John Whittam, Wm. Whiteneck, J. W. Rowen, W. H. Trowbridge, A. 
J. Freese, R. S. ^Martin, J. B. Lambert, Daniel Sivetts, Sam H. Flint, II. Grass, 
F. Dubois, II. Ross, Wm. Lee and R. K. Soper, privates. Citizens of Cedar Rap- 
ids and Kingston gave a reception to these returned soldiers on the evening of 
February 6. This took form of a ball at Daniels' Hall and a supper served at 
the American House. 

The Thirteenth Infanti-y was organized at ^It. Vernon and mustered in July 
23, 1861, Jolm Q. Wild, captain. Chas. W. Kepler was a captain and E. R. 
Mason a sergeant. Among the members were Geo. W. Dotj-, Jacob W. Easterly, 
Chas. Gardner, Jos. M. Harper, S. P. Harman, D. A. Hamilton, Jas. E. Neal, 
Robt. W. Thompson, Wm. Thompson, F. A. Vamer. Thos. W. Wilson, D. C. 
Weaver, John Shaver, John Archer, Henry Blessing, Frank Cook, David Iloster, 
Geo. W. Thompson, John Bierly, Wm. Cline, T. B.^Fullerton, John Gregg. Wm. 
Hackett, Joseph Livington, Jas. A. McClelhin, 0. T. Petit, M. W. Sweet, Wm. 
Teeters, Edw. Ware, Julius A. Jackson. 

In the Foiirteenth Infantry Jos. Legore was a corporal, and a number enlisted 
in the regiment from this comity. The same is true of the Fifteenth, Sixteenth 



LINN COUNTY IN WAR 475 

and Eighteenth regiments. Company A of the Fifteenth was composed largely 
of Linn county men. M. A. lligley was first lieutenant in this company and 
later a major in the commissar}' department. 

The Eighteenth regiment was organized at Clinton, but Company A wa.s 
made up alino.st entirely of men from this county. T. Z. Cook, of Cedar Rapids, 
was lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. 

On July 9, 1862. Governor Kirkwood called for five additional infantry regi- 
ments from Iowa. In response to this call a "ma.ss war meeting" was held in 
Cedar Rapids on the evening of July 22. E. G. Brown was chairman and J. H. 
Elder, seeretarj'. The result of this meeting was the organization of Company 
A, 20th Iowa. Many of the most substantial citizens of Cedar Rapids for the 
time Ix-ing laid aside their private business to engage in raising men for the war. 

The Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantrj* was composed of five companies 
from Linn county and five from Scott county. The companies from this county 
were A. B, P, H. and I. They were mustered into service August 25, 1862. The 
company went from here to Clinton and from there to Davenport. On Septem- 
ber 5 they took the boat for St. Louis. The regiment experienced several hard 
marches in Missouri Jind Arkansas; it took part in the siege of Vicksburg, saw 
service in Louisiana and Texas; was in the attack on Mobile, and was mustered 
out there July 8, 1865. 

William McE. Dye, of Marion, was colonel of the regiment, William G. 
Thompson was ma,ior. Dr. Henry Ristine was surgeon, C. S. Lake, adjutant, and 
J. S. Lake. eommi.s.sary sergeant. Company A was captained by E. N. Bates, 
Company B by Edward Coulter, Company F by N. M. Hubbard, Company II by 
K. II. Lucore, and Company I by C. C. Cook. Among the well known Linn county 
men in this regiment may be mentioned the following: Milo Adams, W. II. 
Boyce, John H. Culp. George W. Homer, Robert Keeler, (ieorge W. Mentzer, John 
D. Mounce, C. E. and Daniel W. Robbins, Erin Rucker, John M. Starbuck. B. F. 
Snyder, F. Uebel, William D. Robbins, A. J. Mallahan, John J. Rolibins, R^ibert 

C. Hall, D. G. Manahan, D. A. Dingman, Joseph Flovd. R. C. Ring. L. L. Wilson. 
N. C. Gillilan, Geo. W. and William Bice, H. Hollenbeck. H. C. Adams. W. C. 
Bowen, S. A. Beach, George Beebe, Bvron Cone. F. M. Elrod. II. P. Eastnuin. Geo. 

D. Gillilan. J. X. Huston, James W. Howlett. J. W. Xewhall, E. J. Reynolds. W. 
Stin.son. Geo. A. Grav, J. J. Ilollan. William H. Scott. George W. Wvnn, B. P. 
Wickham. L. D. Fishery, A. B. Lucore, William Busby, D. L. Castle. S. P. Hollan, 
James .M. IIunt^>r, Hiram Inks, J. D. Jordan. F. A. McConahy, C. H. Sawj'er. J. C. 
McClellan, S. L. Dows, William E. Earl. E. D. Stedman, S.' F. Seeley. Casper J. 
Hart, John W. Whitenack, S. B. Mann, ('has. Morehead. John C Weatherwax. 
John Chambers. George W. Daniels. G. B. Daniels, Abraham Ile.ss, M. B. Plum- 
mer, Samuel M. Whiteing, Henry White. J. O. Stewart. 

Capt. J. O. Stewart, long clerk in Cedar R;ipids of the U. S. District Court, 
entered Company B of this regiment as first sergeant. In Mar<^h. 1S63. he was 
appointed second lieutenant and in 1864 eommi.ssioned captain. For a year and 
a half he acted as adjutant of the regiment. 

Companies F, G, and II in the Twenty-fourth Tnfantr>- were from Linn count>'. 

E. C. Byam was for a time colonel of this reppment, John F. Sly was surgeon. 
John (^. Wilds, of Mt. Vernon, was lieutenant colonel. C. L. Byam. I). W. Camp 
and William II. .Smou.se were adjutants. V. W. Vinson was both a captain and 
chaplain. W. C. Dimmett was i-aptain of Company F. John G. Ilayzlett and 
C. II. Kurtz were first lieutenants, T. L. Smith. A. T. Wain were second lieuten- 
ants, and among the members of this company may be noted the following: Wii- 
li;im Camp. Andrew Doty. John W. Firkins. John F. Goud.v, John Geiger, William 
Hall, .fohn A. Ide. Samuel Johnson. J. II. Kepler. A. Lacoek. William MeQuiston, 
John Peddycoard. John Renfrew. This company was organized at Mt. Venion. 

W. W. Smith was captain of Company G and among the members of this 



476 HISTOKY OF LINN COUNTY 

company were George F. Coleman, James Morrison. Da^dd Briggs, A. Cox, H. H. 
Felton. Jacob Grow, J. G. Hall, D. W. King. Daniel i\Iatson, John L. Ogan, John 
F. Pratlier, Willis Vance, John H. Worden. Tliis company was organized in 
Cedar Rapids. 

Of Company H William Carbee was captain. Among the other officers were 
F. A. Jones, I.B. Dutton, William C. Glover. George W. Martin, J. H. Shanklin, 
Josiah Bimdy, and among the members may be noted Michael Boyer. C. H. Bur- 
liugham, Joe L. Bimdy. John B. Bowman, C. H. Branch. David Ely, Z. V. Els- 
bery, C. R. Elsbery, e". R. Gregg. :\I. Griffith, T. J. Gibson. Benjamin AV. Gibson. 
Joseph Hyatt, F. C. Himter. I. Lambert, Cliarles Penn, D. J. Post. J. S. Vernon, 
David C. Winans, and John Yoiint. 

This company was recruited from Springville, W^aubeek. and Prairieburg. 
The Thirty-first Infantry, Company A, Robert Stinson, captain, was recruited 
in northeastern Linn county and was organized at Marion. William Smj-th, of 
Marion, was colonel of the regiment, G. L. Carhart surgeon, L. H. ]Mason and A. 
J. Twogood quartermasters, Milo P. Smith sergeant-major, and Donald Lothian 
commissary sergeant. J. S. Alexander, at present postmaster at Marion, was 
promoted to the captaincy of Company A on Jime 14. 1864. Dyer Usher and 
John H. Harvey were lieutenants in this company, John M. Robbins, Hiram 
Deem, Jesse Abbott, Richard Abbott, Alfred Stinson and A. P. McKinley ser- 
geants. 

Linn comity was represented in the Thirty-seventh Infantry by men in Com- 
panies A, D, G, H and I. Jas. S. Morehead, George A. Calder. G. L. Snyder are 
familiar names on the roster of this regiment. Company A was organized in 
Cedar Rapids with John Hogendabler as captain. The company was made up of 
men from Linn, Benton and Blaekhawk counties. The regiment was known as 
the "Grey Beards." 

Toward the close of the war some 100-day regiments were organized in Iowa. 
Tlic countj' had men in these also — John S. Harrison, J. T. Christian, Geo. W. 
Bever, Henrv S. Bever, B. P. Snvder. Geo. S. Buslmell. I. S. Barger, John Alls- 
baugh, H. 0.' Kearns, R. N. Maudsley, S. H. Metcalf. N. H. Martin, P. Otterbein, 
Homer H. Phelps, and others. Half of Company E, 46th, Infantry were from 
Linn countv. John Harrison of Cedar Rapids, was the captain. David B. Hen- 
derson, of Dubuque, was colonel of the regiment. 

The county had also scattered representation in several cavalry regiments. 
According to the reports of the adjutant general of Iowa, out of a population 
of 18.947, Linn county furnished 1.737 men for the army from 1861 to 1864 
inclusive. 

It is scarcely possible to sum up in brief space what Linn county did in raising 
men for the war. Company K of the First Iowa. Company D of the Twelfth, 
the companies raised by Captains E. N. Bates. C. C. Cook. R. H. Lucore, N. M. 
Hubbard, and J. P. Coulter, had already gone out from the county or were ready 
to enter the service early in 1862. W. W. Smith and Rev. F. W. Vinson had also 
a full company. I\Iore than fifty men had been recruited at Western, seventy-five 
at Spring^'ille, a full company at ^Moimt Veraon, some fifty additional men at 
Marion, and a company was then forming at Center Point. 

In its issue for August 21, the Times stated: "Within the past two weeks she 
[Linn county] lias sent five companies out, and four others, full and organized, 
are waiting orders to leave. A tentli company will soon lie filled. Nothing less 
than a regiment will satisfy the martial feeling prevailing in our county." 

On Monday. August 18, the companies of Captain Cook. Lucore. and Coulter, 
about 250 in all, left Cedar Rapids for Clinton. Captain Vinson's company was 
filled on August 20, with Sheriff W. W. Smith as first lieutenant. This company 
was made a part of the Twenty-fourth, or "Temperance" regiment. Jlr. Vin- 
son later resigned as captain to accept a position as chaplain of the regiment. 





•r; 



^ 



^Mit-»m. i 









•^ 



SAMI'l-KSOFCURRKNCY USKD IN PIONKKR DAYS 
The lower two sijineil by John Weart-, President 



LINN COUNTY IN WAR 477 

111 tin- iiK'aiitiinc Caiitaiii T. Z. Cook luul rcceivcii a coininissiou as lieutenant 
colonel of the Kigrhteenth Iowa. At the time he was mayor of Cedar Rapids but 
resigned and Charles Weare was appointed in his place. 

In April. 1862. Dr. J. II. Cainhuni. of Cedar Rapids, was commissioned a.s 
surgeon of the Sixteenth Iowa and ahoiit the same time Dr. R. R. Taylor was 
appointed as medical otiicer of the Fourth cavalry, then stationed at Benton Mar- 
raeks, St. Louis. 

To sfjoak at length of the services rendered in the field by the men from liiun 
county is not possible at this time. Our boys all distinguished themselves for 
bravery, and suffered patiently the many privations to which they were subjected. 
Many of them saw hard service, juid quite a number were taken prisoners. At 
Shiloh anumg the Linn county officers made prisoners were Capt. John II. Stibbs, 
and Lieut. Hiel Ilalc of Company 1). Twelfth Iowa. These officers were later 
relea.sed on exchange. Captain Ed Coulter of the Twentieth Iowa fell into the 
hands of the enemy down in Texas. It seems that officers of the Twentieth were 
somewhat unfortunate. Ma.jor W. G. Thompson was badly wounded at the battle 
of Prairie Grove. Captain Bates resigned because of ill health, returned home, 
and died. (Japtain Lucore became ill with the small pox and also died. Captain 
C. C. Cook resigned on account of sickness, and was succeeded by Joseph Mc- 
Clelland, who at the time was ill in Xew Orleans. Lieutenant Joseph Holland 
resigned and came honu- sick, dying stwn afterward. 

Company A of the Thirty-first Iowa reached Cedar Rapids after being dis- 
charged on July 3. 186.3. This company went into the war 1(X) strong and returned 
with only about forty. Early in August of this same year, the three companies 
from Linn county in the Twenty-fourth Iowa reached home. Of Company C 
there were only twenty of the original members left. 

On the 7th of September. 1865. Cedar Rapids gave the returning soldiers a 
big reception. The elaborateness of the reception was greatly marred by a heavy 
rainfall. The spirit manifested was all riglit, however. 

COMPANY C, CED.AR R.AP1DS 

One of the best known military companies in the state is Company C. of Cedar 
Rapids. This company was organized November 1. 1883. its first captain being 
George Greene. Many of the best known young men of the town at one time or 
another have been members of this organization. 

After ser\-ing a number of years Captain Greene resigned, and for a short 
time W. G. Dows was acting captain. Ed. II. Smith w;is then chosen to the posi- 
tion. He was suecceded by George A. Evans. 

W. G. Dows. long a member of this company, for a time was adjutant of the 
First R<>giment Iowa National Guards. 

Upon the call for troops because of the Spanish-American war, on Aiiril 2r>. 
1898, the entire membership of Company C left that same night for Dcs Moines, 
where the entire First Regiment was as,sembled. This regiment was mustered in- 
fo the T'nitcd States service as the Forty-ninth Iowa Tnited States Volunteer In- 
fantiy. William G. Dows, colonel, commanding. After drilling for a time they 
went to Jacksonville, Florida, and then to Savannah. Georgia, where they took 
a government transport for Cuba. The members of the regiment did all kind of 
service in the army of oc<'upation. much of it being ver>- laborious. In May. 1899. 
the regiment returned from Cuba and shortly afterwards was mustered out at 
Savannah. 

While the company was in the service in Cuba Georsre A. Evans was its cap- 
tain. 

A fi'w months later the present Fifty-third Regiment was organized, each city 
in the old regiment being allr)wed a company in the new. Company <' was re- 



478 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

organized, and is now a part of this regiment. The first captain of the new com- 
pany was Frank Halin. He was succeeded by T. A. Berkebile, and he by John 
Ran, who is now the captain of the company. 

Col. William G. Dows, who is now a member of the governor's staff, served 
for twenty-five years in various capacities in the same regiment, a service for con- 
tinuity unequalled. Though offered promotions, he maintained that he would 
rather stay by the old boys and the old regiment. 

FIFTH IOWA BATTERY 

Promptly upon the declaration of war in 1898 with Spain a battery waa 
organized in Cedar Rapids for ser\-iee in that war. It was mustered into the 
service a.s the Fifth Battery Iowa Volunteer Light Artillery. Nearly all of the 
100 members came from Cedar Rapids and vicinity. The members were enrolled 
during April and May, and the battery was mustered in at Des Moines in Jime by 
Major Olmsted of the U. S. regulars. The battery saw no regular service, but it 
spent ten weeks in camp waiting, ready for service in the field if called upon. 
George W. Bever was the captain, R. Tasker Forbes and S. Craighead Cook, 
lieutenants, Charles A. Loring was first sergeant, Robert M. Witwer, quartermaster 
sergeant. Dr. C. H. French and Roy Waite were also sergeants in the company. 



CHAPTER XLV 

Odds and Ends of Historv and Reminiscence 

In this chapter we give some odds and ends of history and reminiseenoe that 
could not well be insert<^'d elsewhere or that came into our possession after the 
foregoing chapters were written : 

The result of the vote in Linn county in 1860 showed 2.227 for Lincoln electors, 
1.220 for Dougla.s, 24 for Breckinridge, and 84 for Rell. In Rapids township 
Lincoln had 397. Douglas 201, Breckinridge 3, and Bell 2t). 

The first telegraph line reached Cedar Rapids February 24, 1860. 

On the evening of .Sunday, June 3. 1860, a destructive storm occurred, since 
known as "The Great Tornado." It was most destructive about five miles north 
of Cedar Rapids, and passed southward, leaving the county in the \ncinity of 
Western. Some lives were lost and many buildings destroyed. 

THE TOWN OF WESTERN 

Western was laid out in March. 1856, iinder the auspices of the United Brethren 
church, with the design of forming proper surroundings for the college. Ground 
was first broken in June of that year. By August, 1857, there were forty-three 
dwelling houses and three hiuidred inhabitants. One college building had been 
completed. This was of brick, three stories in height. 36 by 62 feet. This was 
placed upon a campus of seventeen acres. Rev. S. Weaver was first president of 
this institution. The plan was to operate a large farm in connection with the 
college, that students might earn their way. In this new town there were already 
two stort^s, one hotel built and one building, a blacksmith shop, two physicians, and 
fourteen bu.sy carpenters. Land in the vicinity was worth from $10 to $20 per 
acre. Its quality was proven when the college president, on his own farm, raised 
1,800 bushels of wheat. There was a railroad coming there, of course, as there 
was one prospected t^i nearly every cross-roads in the state. This particular line 
was the Iowa I'nion. tfi run from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City. 

Western was above all things a moral town. One Daniel Quin having opened 
a grog shop near the place. wheri> the college authorities could not interfere, the 
people took up the matter. Sentiment was aroused and a ma.ss nuvting was held. 
At this meeting resolutions were adopt«d, which provided that a committee should 
wait upon the dram seller and urge him to desist. In ca.se of his refusal the 
committee was t« try legal methods for his suppression. If these proved inef- 
fective the meeting was to be again called. t<i devis<! further measun-s. A verj' 
significsuit addendum was that the mwting would siipjiort the cdmmittei' in any 
plan which niiglit be <onsidered neces.sary to eradicate the obnoxious business. 
It was further resolved to use the boycott -- though the Irish ca[)tain had not yet 
given his name to the scheme. In other words they were not to employ or trade 
with any man engaged in the liquor business or wlio might in any way support the 
traffic. It is perhaps needless to .say that (juin surrendered at discretion without 
forcing the committee and tlie people to extremities hinted at. 

MX. VERNON 

.Mt. Venion nuikes showing in several directions during 1857. The Congre- 
gntioniilisLs of that town being without a place of worship were enabled to rent 



480 HISTORY OF LIXX COUNTY 

from the Covenauters. But by the terms of the lease \\'ith that strict body 
Iironiise wa.s made that no minister of pro-slavery sentiments should be heard 
within the building, nor upon any occasion was a musical instrument of any des- 
scription to be used therein. Tlie institution at Mt. Vernon which had before this 
time been known as "Iowa Conference Seminary.'" was in Aug^ust, 1857. changed 
in name to Cornell College. And i\It. Vernon, like the other college town of West- 
ern, was careful for civic peace and righteousness. Christianity in that time and 
in a ne«' countrj' was required sometimes to be of a stalwart and muscular kind, 
that it might meet evil tendencies sharply and effectively. Thus we learn of the 
discomfitures of a gang of rowdies from Linn Grove, who invaded the peace of 
Mt. Vernon and disturbed its Sabbath quietude, with int4?nt to break up a relig- 
ious meeting then in progress. These were overcome, after a tussle, by the 
worshippers, and held until passing of midnight brought a ci\'ie day. Then the 
.iustice was roused, the disturbers formally accused, tried and fined to the utmost 
extent of their resources. The affair was over before one o'clock Monday morn- 
ing, the rowdies started home with empty pockets, sadder and wiser men, and the 
godly inhabitants of Mt. Vei-non again slept the sleep of the .iust. 

FIRST AGRICULTUR.AL .ASSOCI.ATION 

The Linn County Agricultural and iMechimical Association was organized 
in 1855. its first meeting being held at Cedar Rapids in ;\Iay of that year. The 
organization was completed in July. The ob.ject, as stated, was "the encourage- 
ment of agriculture, manufactures and the mechanic arts.'' To aci-omplish 
this laudable purpose an annual comity fair was to be held. The first of these 
was at Cedar Rapids in September. 1855, and the second at Jlarion the ne.xt 
.year. The.se are reported as very creditable in exhibits, iind fairly well attended. 
In 1857 the a.ssociation was incorporated, and in consequence drew $2(X) from the 
state treasury. The third fair was again at Cedar Rapids, and the management 
took the public into its confidence in advance by revealing its slender resources. 
The premiums for '56 were not paid, but those of the next year were very promptly 
met, and a surplus remained over for the future. These annual fairs were recog- 
nized as something to be aided by all parties, and the various toll bridges notified 
intending exhibitors that all live stock taken to the fair would be pa.ssed free. 

The statement of the association for 1860 shows total income of $462.00. of 
which amount .'{;25fl.00 represented the gate i-eceipts. The expenditures were 
.$414.95, including $146.98 for premiums. The indebtedne-ss of the society had 
increased to $618.65. The amount received from the state each year was $200.00. 
Officers elected for 1861 were: President. Charles Taylor, Cedar Rapids; vice 
presidents, Andrew Safely and W. S. Gott, Marion ; secretary. S. D. McCauley. 
Cedar Rapids; treasurer. Lysander Jones, Marion. 

FIRST TEACHERS .ASSOCIATION 

Another organization, though having nominal existence before tliis time, was 
really made effective in 1857. This was the Linn County Teachei's' A.ssociation. 

On October 31, on call of J. L. Enos, the teachers and others interested met in 
Cedar Rapids. Mr. Enos was then editor of the Voice of Iowa, the educational 
organ of the state. At this meeting a reorganization of the asscK'.iation was 
effected, and officers elected as follows : President, Rev. S. Weaver, president of 
Western college; vice presidents. Prof. S. ]\I. Fellows of IMt. Vernon, E. A. Cooley 
of Marion, Ira G. Fairbanks of Cedar Rapids; secretary. Prof. N. W. Bartlett. 
Wes-tem ; trea.surer. Hon. E. X. Bates of Cedar Rapids. The executive committee 
consisted of M. Bowman. Franklin township; S. ]\I. Bruce. Washington; William 
Parmenter, Western; J. L. Enos, Cedar Rapids; and A. Witter. Franklin. Tlie 





STKEKT VIKWS IN IKDAK K'AIMDS, IS I'.tlO 



ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 4<S1 

work of prei)nriiig a ciiiistitutioii was coiumitti'd to J. L. Eiios, E. A. Cooley, and 
Ira G. Fairliauks. A furtht^r meetinp of the aasofiation was held at Western. 
Decemhcr 12th, at wliioh titne the constitution was adopted and the organization 
started on a verj- useful existence. 

FIRST teacher's CERTIFIC.VIK IN CKDAU RAIMDS 

The lirst teachers certificate issued in Kapids township reads as follows: 
"This certifies that I have this day e.xainined Miss Susan A. Abbe, touching 
her ability to teach, both in regard to her education and to her moral character, 
and I find her well qualified for a teacher of conunon schools. 

"This certificate shall be valid for one year. 
"Rapids township, Linn county, Iowa, July 16, 1847. 

"Alexander L. Ely, 
"Inspector of Common Schools for said Township." 

Alexander L. Ely was one of the early settlers of Cedar Rapids, was interested 
in the public matters of the new town, and early engaged in politics. He wa.s also 
largely interested in real est^ite, find operated one of the first mills on the Cedar 
river at the dam, which he caused to be built with X. B. Brown and other lead- 
ing citizens. 

Susan A. Abbe, the person to whom this certificate was issued, is still living 
in Ilollister, California, and is known as Mrs. Susan Shields. She was seventeen 
years when the certificate wsus issued, and had then been a resident of the county 
ten years. She taught for a number of years in the public schools of this county. 

Mrs. Shields maintains that she was the first legally qualified person to teach 
in the public schools of Cedar Rapids, according to the laws then in force in the 
state. 

The evidence seems to confirm her contention. 

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE 

A teachers' institute, first of whir-h record is made and notable in point of 
attendance, was held in Cedar Rapids December 2(5, IS.")!), and continued for 
three days. There was constant drilling for the pedagogues in common school 
branches. Some sixty teachers were present. 

Linn county teachers held their institute for 1860 at Western October 29-30. 
with Prof. F. Humphrey of Cedar Rapids, president. S<nne of the subjects 
di.scussed may sene t^ illustrate difTerences in the times. Question of teachers 
(presumably male) using tobacco came up, and a resolution was adopted exjiress- 
ing "disapproval of the usi' of tobacco by t<»achers, and recommend to those of 
Linn coimty to abstain therefrom entirely." Dr. J. Maynard of Tipton made 
an address on the subject of "Children's Rights." Prof. Wheeler of Cornell 
orated on "Demosthenes." Editor Jenmie of the Iowa C'ity RfpiihHraii urged 
teachers to use the pre.ss as an ally in the eau.se of education. 

Mrs. Ruth A. Dale, of Cedar Rapids, sister of Eiias Doty, now living near 
Bertram, where the family settled in the early days — IS.?!) — has distinct recol- 
lections of pioneer life in the county. She states that Aretas Crane and Daniel 
C. Doty, brothers of Elias and James M. Doty, the pionwrs, s<ntled at Ft. Stt-vens. 
now Davenport, in 183ti or 1837 — 1836 she believes is the correct date. Daniel 
Doty and his .son, J. M. Doty, and his son-inJaw. Aretas Crane, pas-sed over the 
ground on which Cedar Rapids now stands in 1S37. This being the fact, it i.s 
evident that tlic»- people wen- the fii-st white men to look upon the present site 
of the city, with a view to finding a permanent settlement for thems4'lv»>s. They, 



482 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

however, after looking over the ground concluded that the site afterwards known 
as Westport, and somewhat later as Newark, was the preferable location. They 
retvimed to their home at MiddletowTi, Butler county, Chio, and arranged their 
affairs. James M. Doty and Elias Doty, sons of Daniel Doty, returned to the 
county in 1839 and took up a claim at Westport. There they started what was, 
without question, the first manufacturing plant within the limits of the county, 
and possibly ia the state. Tliis was a pottery. The date of its establishment 
was probably in 1840. Later the same year Elias Doty began the erection of the 
first saw-mill in the comity. 

The Dotys were induced to come to Iowa through the fact that their brother, 
Daniel C. Doty, was at the time engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi, his 
headquarters being at Davenport. 

In this connection the following extracts from a letter written by Elias and 
J. M. Doty to their parents and dated May 2, 1841, are of interest : 

"I have my mill frame up, that is, the lower frame. The upper frame is 
almost ready to raise. The millwright work can be done in about six weeks from 
the time we raise the frame. I have commenced the race. I have tliree hundred 
feet in length of a race and two hundred feet dam. As soon as I get water to 
it, it will be ready to run. 

"There are hard times enough here for anybody. There is nothing that will 
l)ring cash that I know of. For my part I am hard run to live. I would like to 
have some money. It has not come yet. 

"I cannot say that we are all well, but we are able to keep about. We had 
a great deal of sickness last fall. I cannot say that I like this countrj', it ia 
too cold for me, the ground freezes from two to four feet deep. The frost is 
hardly out yet. The trees look like winter time. I think I will leave this place 
as soon as I can get my business settled, and money enough to carrj' me away. 
I have between two and three hundred dollars coming but can't get enough to 
buy myself a shirt. I bought com last fall at three cents per bushel. I have 
three claims and want to sell them. 

' ' Last night was a pretty moonlight night. Parmelia kicked up a fuss and 
after all night's watching about six o'clock this morning after a bright sunrise 
she was delivered of a prosperous looking son, weight nine pounds, seven ounces. " 

VOTE OF LINN COUNTY 1910 
The vote of the county in November, 1910, for governor was as follows : 

Twp. Rep. 

Bertram 33 

Brovni 209 

Boulder 76 

Buffalo 40 

Cedar 133 

Clinton 52 

CoUege 49 

Fairfax 60 

Fayette 94 

Franklin 385 

Grant 124 

4420 4439 
In addition to the above there were 382 votes cast for other candidates. 

SOME MUNICIPAL FIGURES FOR CEDAR RAPIDS 

The net taxable value of property in Cedar Rapids for the year 1910, on the 
(ine-fourth valuation, is .$6,579,183. In addition the city has a mulct tax revenue 



Dem. 


Twp. 


Rep. 


Dem. 


75 


Jackson 


166 


51 


102 


Linn 


57 


57 


90 


Maine 


225 


79 


27 


Marion 


519 


391 


127 


Monroe 


99 


66 


64 


Otter Creek 


67 


63 


95 


Putnam 


43 


96 


111 


Rapids 


1761 


2443 


35 


Spring Grove .... 


83 


22 


182 


Washington 


145 


168 


95 









ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 483 

and ail income from licenses, police court fiiu»s, etc.. of about $(50,000 per year, 
giving a little more than $300,0(X) available for city purposes. 

The real estate valuation for 1010 is $21,280,294. and the personal property is 
valued at $5.()2(i.4:?8. The valuation twelve years ap) wjus one-half of the above 
amount. It has increased at the rate of one million dollars jx^r year since 1898. 
This increase is largely due to improvements and new buildings. Land values 
have doubled in the past twelve years. For 1911 the valuation will go above 
these values as the city has increased in value so fast that it will be neces.sjiry for 
the assessors to raise the valuation on all property for 1911 at least three million 
dollars, which will bring the total valuation to nearly thirty millions by 1912. 

EARLY DAYS LV LINX 

IN CEDAR R.AP1DS REPUBLICAN TUNE 20. IQIO 

Being in a somewhat reflective mood today I shall attempt to acquaint you 
of a few incidents in a life as memorj- unfolds them to me. It will be necessarj' 
lu'fore narrating tliese incident.s to introduce to you my friend and acquaintance. 
Colonel Mclntyre of Indian Creek bottom, familiarly known as "Pinkey" by 
his ela.ss mates at West Point. The colonel inea-sured six feet two, .symmetrically 
proportioned, tipping the scale at a triHc over two hundred pounds, eyes of 
steel grey, beard auburn, bordering slightly on the reddi.sli and a militarj- bearing 
in keeping with his long years of service as a disciplinarian. The incidents of 
this life take me back some years to that little cabin, that stood on the east side of 
the road running north and s<3uth past Indian creek bottom, built from roughly 
finished logs hewn from the trunks of trees cut from the nearby forest. Time 
does not seem to efface from memory recollections with the boys and girls of the 
sparsely .settled neighborhood, attending spelling schools and such like. The 
unfolding of memorj- reveals to me versions of the old place and the cliildhood 
days spent beneath the clapboard roof as vividly a.s though it were but yesterday. 

A little farther on up the road from this cabin, perhaps a half mile, there is a 
fork in the road, one fork leading (m to what was then known as Turkey Grove 
Jind now to feather ridge, the other on to the Inn dwellers cave on the "Pinican" 
bluffs. On the flat iron point where the road forks was erected the first school 
house in that vicinity and is still standing as a monument to the men who were 
not afraid to do what they knew to be right regardless of the whims and petty 
elamorings of dissatisfaction that continually sway committees from the paths of 
rectitude and right. From this nucleus of education there go forth its quota of 
youth each year to ent^-r higher institutions of learning or grapple with the more 
serious problems of life. The impressions I received while attending this .school 
by the plea.siuit grove have not been eradieati-d by the conquering of new worlds 
or by the glamour of political conquests. Youtliful dreams and the bewitching 
smile of some fair maid were a source of great pleasure t<) me; a smile from Miss 
Rose LaBelle during school time would set my heart going at a two minute clip 
and detra<'t materially from my studies and the routine of .school work. 

FVom this miniature "college" have gone forth men and women who are now 
wielding an influence almost nation wide in its scope. Some are gradually 
wandering from the trutlis that were enunciaU^d and make a cardinal principle 
of its teaching and are now searching in hidden paths of 80ciolog>' for new light. 
I now recall an event that happened while att<^nding this school that convcj-s to 
my mind another fact tending t4> establish the truth of the proposition, that 
"ingratitude" is no dream. 

One bright morning in early spring when all natun^ seemed aglow^ with fresh- 
ness and beauty, myself and a number of girls were the first to arrive at sciiwl, 
the teacher. Miss Theresa M<'Curty, being n little later than usual. On entering 



484 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

the school house we were held spellbound and speechless for a moment by a 
strange musical yet weird sound which seemed to come from the rear of the room. 
It took considerable effort to muster up courage to make an investigation, but 
finally a search was started and on approaching the rear end of the room the 
same musical weird soimd would be at the other end of the room. Now in order 
to discover what it was that was making this strange weird noise and put the 
intruder to rout and discover if possible what kind of a looking monster he was, 
it was decided that two of us would go around to the rear and the rest remain in 
front and keep a sharp lookout for whatever it might be, when all at once one of 
the girls let out an unearthly scream and pointing at some object in the corner 
of the room shouted, "There it goes.'' We all gave chase, although some of the 
girls were rather timid on the start, and succeeded in capturing the intruder 
alive. It turned out to be a large white wood-mouse. What to do with this 
new and unruly possession was the important question now up for solution. 
Some were in for dispatching it at once, others said let's turn it loose, but Miss 
Orrie, who always had an eye for business when there was any fun in sight, sug- 
gested putting it in the teacher's desk and the result was' that Rliss Orrie had her 
way and we proceeded with all haste to carry out her plan, the girls holding 
up the lid of the old fashioned teacher 's desk while I dropped the miLsieal wonder 
in. This done, we went about our play as though nothing was ever expected to 
happen, impatiently waiting for something to happen, but not quite sure what. 
We didn't have long to wait. 

Now the teacher, Mi.ss Theresa McCurty, was of the type of spinsters who are 
apparently self-\\nlled and thoroughly versed in the art of throwing round them 
an atmosphere of ability to convince others of their dependence only on themselves 
in case of emergency to take care of themselves. 

We had barely completed the capture and imprisonment in the teacher's desk 
of the musical wonder, when Miss McCurty arrived, ready for her day's work of 
training the youthful intellect. It seemed as if this morning in particular she 
was more precise than ever and went about her work very deliljeratelj'. 

It was her custom (a custom that the "Blasting at the Rock of Ages" ought 
not to minimize) to read a chapter from some book of the bible every morning 
to the scholars before commencing the further duties of the day, and that chapter 
which speaks about bearing false witness was the one chosen for this morning, a 
very fitting prelude too, to the further developments of the day. We were more 
prompt than usual in taking our seats after school was called this morning with 
an evident desire to impress the teacher as being veiy attentive to our studies, 
but at the same time keeping one eye in the teacher's direction, so as not to miss 
any of the movements of the teacher in case the anticipated fun was thrust upon 
us. Lowell Taylor, the boy who couldn't keep still if he had to, was bubbling 
over with mirth (every school has them) and was severely reproved for not keep- 
ing quiet and for disturbing the whole school by his antics. After delivering to 
Lowell this short lecture on disobedience she went to her desk to get her bible 
and as she lifted the lid out jumped the prisoner and such a screech as she let out 
seemed to almost freeze the marrow in your bones and sent the cold chills chasing 
up and down your spinal column as with one bound she made the first row of seats 
and in a jiff.y was clean to the farther end of the room, perched upon the rear 
desk with her skirts tucked snugly around her shaking limbs and terror pictured 
in every line of her face. 

In tliis position she remained impervious to all efforts to induce her to come 
off her high perch, until a second chase had been made and the intruder ejected 
from the room. 

By recess time she had again settled back in the old well beaten path and 
assumed her usual calm and dignified way, her reason, which had been so suddenly 
dethroned by the advent of the harmless mouse, was again gaining masterj' of the 



ODDS AND ENDS OK HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 48;') 

situation. Witli the return of reason came Uie t-angled Uireads of suspicion, that 
perhaps she had been the victini of a desifjnini; btuieh of scholars and tJuit a huge 
.joke had been perpetrated on her. Witli tliis object in view slie bepan a systematic 
seareli for evidence and ainonjr the girls she struck a responsive chord. They 
\\en> ready to couN-ict iuiy one in order to exculpate themselves. They gave the 
whole plot away iiud every bust one of them persisted in their inmx-ence so elo- 
cpiently that the teadier was fully convinced of my guilt. She therefore pro- 
ceeded to relieve lier pent up feelings by putting into action several of her 
"suffragette" ideas about personal liberty. She restrained me of mine for the 
next two weeks during the noon hour. 

EARLY DOCTORS IX THE COUNTY 

'J'he following extracts from a paper read in December, li)l(i. before the Iowa 
I'nion Medical Society at its meeting in Cedar Rapids, by Dr. II. W. Sigworth. 
of Anamosji. himself a pioneer physician in Linn county, is of interest : 

I left northeastern Linn coiuity thirty-four years ago. 

In 1856 I commenced the study of medicine in Pennsylvania. After that I 
was a tramp schoolmaster, farmer, .student at Wisconsin university, and V. S. 
soldier. I graduated from Rush in '63. After looking for a location in Indiana, 
Illinois, and Wisconsin, I hxated at Waubeek — think of it — in Waubeek, in 
.Maine township, in 186;{. 

I had tried it a mouth at Fairview, in Jones coiuity, In-fore going to Waubeek. 
Hy the way, old Dr. Ristine made his first start in Iowa in the same historic town 
of Fairview before locating in Marion. 

Northeastern Linn county at that time was very much on the frontier. There 
were no bridge's on the Wapsie from Qua.S(|ueton to Auamosa, but at Central Citj* ; 
now there are five. At Waubeek we had a i)ostofti«'C but no regular mail carrier. 
Any one going to Marion took the mail sack and brouglit back the mail. 

Our first mail route was on Friday morning. It left Quasqueton horseback, 
making Paris, Central City (which was formerly called Clark's Ford), Waubeek, 
Xecot (Perkins), Anamosa. Saturday it would return over the same route. 

The earliest doctor of whom I can get an.v word of hx-ating in this territorj* 
was Doctor ,-Vshby at Paris. When 1 came in 18(>3. Doctor Patterson was at Cen- 
tral City. Dr. Lanning was at Paris. He sat next to me at Rush in 1861 and 
1862. Dr. Stacy lived out the Anamosa and Quasqueton road at Valley farm. I 
never met him. He sent me my first case of fractured thigh in June of 1863; a 
boy. eight years old. who lived in a sod house with a board roof, two miles north 
of McQueen's (now Hill's Mill), now owned by Co(|uillette. The splints were 
made with an axe and pocket knife out of an old cradle found on the roof of the 
lious*'. Ext^-nsion on the ankle was by the top of an old shoe with strings through 
the foot-piece of the Liston splint. R<'sults all right. 

At Paris, after Lanning came Drs. Hyain, Mrs. Dr. Byam, and my brother. 
M. P. Sigworth, Fullerton, McTavish, and Ellis, all of whom I knew, and not one 
of them alive now. 

Wliere the thriving vilUige of Prairieburg now is was a cross road, the north- 
east corner lying out to commons for vears. 

The first doctor to hw-ate there was Dr. Young. lie drove a little sorrel horse 
in n light rig with one wheel dished, which made a eriMiked track, and his dispo- 
sition was something like the track of his bugg>-. Following him at this place 
was Dr. Ellis, who went to that place from Paris. 

At Central City after Dr. Patt^'rson came Mitchell, a state of Maine Yankee. 
.\t an early dat*^ a ma.iority of the people here abouts were from the state of 
Maine, henceforth the liame of Maine town.ship. The Jordans. Friesons, < 'larks, 
Waferhouses. were earlv settlors froni the state of Maine. 



486 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

Dr. Mitchell was a good doctor and a fine man. Poor fellow, he lost his life 
by having administered to him by a mistake a teaspoonful of poison when he was 
to have a tonic. 

After his death at Central City the place was filled by Drs. Ristine, Fisher, 
McTavish, my son, Dwight Sigworth, and Percy, a scientific fellow. This field 
18 now filled by Drs. Fisher and Woodbridge. 

Waubeek was in the field of Dr. Love, he going northwest to Nugent 's Grove 
at times. Dear old Dr. Love was a splendid man, a first-class diagnostician and 
a good physician and surgeon. If he lacked anything it was aggressiveness in 
surgery. 

While at "Waubeek I had for co-laborers Drs. Phipps, Scott, Bowers, and 
Grimm. Bowers tried to commit suicide by taking a teaspoonful of poison which 
made him very sick, but he ultimately recovered. Dr. Grimm was known as the 
Dutch doctor. 

"While I was at Waubeek when the river was high I had a stable on the north 
side of the river and I used to cross in a skiff to feed my hoi*se and attend to calls 
on that side. 

The north side of the river was all woods for three miles in those days, and 
my practice was largely on that side. I used to go into Delaware county, and I 
had a large slice of Jones county. And may I say it, there are some families in 
that county wliich have had no doctor but a Sigworth for forty-four years. 
After fourteen years I sold to Dr. Crawford and then in four years he sold to 
Dr. Woodbridge, who in ten years moved to Central City. At the present time 
Dr. Ward is in Waubeek. 

The practice in those days was fraught with a great deal of difficulty and 
inconvenience. Swimming the river on horseback was one of the experiences 
which I did not like. Many times have I been wet while fording the streams 
with my feet on the dashboard of the buggy, my attention being taken in guiding 
my horse to an opening in the timber or a safe place to land. 

Those were the days in which we drank brandy mixed with sorghum, which 
was browned in the oven. This served the place of coffee. 6i"ape-nuts, I think, 
originated from this. 

Of all of the forty-two doctors whom I have mentioned in this article I have 
met thirty-five, and at the present time there are six doctors on this field. 

THE OLD MILL OF CENTRAL CITY 

One of the land marks of the county is the old grist mill on the banks of the 
Wapsie at Central City. For a history of this mill, as well as for other interest- 
ing matter relative to the neighborhood, we are indebted to E. S. Wetherbee, editor 
of the Central City News-Letter, which paper in its issue of May 2, 1907, con- 
tained the followang sketch and reminiscence : 

There are in the history of every city or hamlet many incidents of early times 
which are interesting to the present day generation, and are often worth recording, 
otherwise they are apt to pass into entire oblivion. But few remain of the early 
settlers of this community to tell the story of those early days. Although not one 
of the first, yet being among the very oldest of those j'et alive and living here is 
Mr. James Outing, and it is to him we credit the data of the contents of this article. 
[Mr. Outing died about a year after this interview.] 

Among the very first people to settle here may be named Chandler Jordan, 
who still lives on his farm southeast of town, old "tlncle Joe" Clark, who came in 
1839, and other families by the names of Heubner, Crawley, Pond. Tisdell, and 
others who might be named who appeared here about the same time. For a 



ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTOKV AND REMINISCENCE 487 

number of years the only way of getting across the river, ami tliat only when the 
water was low, was by fording it somewhere near what is now known as the upper 
bridge. From this tiie pluee reeeiveil its first name, and whatever honor was 
attached to it was given Mr. ("lark l),v calling it Clark's Ford. 

At tliat time Mr. Clark owned ([uite a large tract of land here, comprising all 
the land now inside the corporation west of Fourth street, the eighty acres lying 
east of Fourth street being owned by some land couceni in Cascade. As ilid uU 
his neighbors, Mr. Clark farmed in those days entirely with oxen. 

The place went by the name of Clark's Ford but a few years, however, for 
Mr. Clark and a few others conceived the idea of laying out a town, and the Cas- 
cade men came over and together they laid off the plat, and it was then decided 
to call it Central City. 

One of the first needs of the people of the little neighborhood was a more con- 
venient w.iy of crossing the Wapsic, and this meant that a bridge must be 
constructed. Accordingly one was built at the jjlacc where the north or upper 
bridge now crosses the river. It wjis not what in this day would be called an 
expensive structure or so very handsome when completed, but it represented much 
hard work, privations, and expense to those interested in the building of it. The 
coimty had but little to do with it, if any, the whole thing being done by popular 
subscription, and in those times, there not being many to subscribe, the task was 
indeed a big one for the little handful of people. There was some money raised, 
but more gave in work, others furnished lumber, a stick of timber, and so on, until 
finally it was completed and fraf^c over it was begun in 1857. This bridge did 
not stand the test long. In the summer of 1859 there came a big freshet and the 
bridge went down stream. With its going out occurred an incident, which, though 
possibly forgotten by others, yet still remains fresh in the memory of Chandler 
Jordan. He was on this side of the river and while the bridge swayed and was 
considered unsafe he concluded to risk it as he was anxious to get home. He was 
on horseback and over he started. When about half way across the bridge began 
brcjiking loose, and realizing his danger Mr. Jordan .jumi)ed off his horse and 
started on the run for the .shore. The horse also made an extra effort to find solid 
footing and both succeeded in getting on the opposite bank just as the bridge 
swung out into midstream and started floating down the river. It was soon re- 
placed by another wooden structure built by the county and costing about $4,000. 
This stood for many years but has long since pas-sed away and been replaced by 
the steel bridge now spanning the river on the same site. 

But we started out to write about the old mill. It still stands, and with the 
exception of the necessary repairs which from time to time have been made, con- 
tains the same timbere and lumber it did when built. In the early fifties there came 
to this neighborhood two men. one by the name of St. John, the other by the name 
of John Peet, both men of push and ambition. Realizing the tremendous power to 
be obtained from the waters of the Wapsie. and the ea.se with which a dam could be 
constructed where it now is. with the rocky banks on either side, and knowing the 
great demand for lumber, in the then fast settling community, they begini the 
con.struction of a daTii with the intention of running a wiw mill with it. The 
work on the dam was begun in 1855 by the two men mentioned, but was not 
finished until the next year, the work being engineered by old Mr. Bowdish, father 
of I. P. Bowdish. It was finished in 1856, as was also the old saw mill which 
stood for many years on the .south bank of the river and did a flourishing bus- 
iness. Like many other old land marks it is gone. But many a stick of timber 
and lots of the old oak boards sawed there may yet be found in the older buildings 
about town. 

The country all about here was fast .settling up, and one of the principal 
crops was wheat. It was a long way to market, the nearest railroad station being 
at Marion. St. John and Peet concluded that a flouring mill would be a paying 



488 HISTOEY OF LINN COUNTY 

enterprise, and began the erection of the mill. The lumber was sawed at the 
sawmill, and the heavy timbers, of which there were many, mostly came from a 
forty on what now belongs to the Gus Hatch farm north of town. 

^Mentioning these timbers calls to the mind of 'Slv. Outing an incident which 
he threw into this narrative. There was a character who lived here by the name 
of Henrj' Hutchins. He was fond of hunting and fisliing and would be gone 
often for a period of several days, no one knowing of his whereabouts. About 
this time he disappeared, and his absence became so protracted that his many 
friends began to fear that something had happened to him. It was while a party 
of choppers was hunting for timbers for the mill on the forty mentioned that one 
day they found Hutchins' lifeless body and beside it lay his gun with every indi- 
cation that he had committed suicide. 

"When the timbers were all on the ground, hewed and framed, everybody for 
miles around was invited and came to help ^Wth the I'aising. It was a mammoth 
.iob and occupied the better part of a week. Mr. Outing was there from start U) 
finish. The mill was completed and began operations in 1850. St. John and 
Peet ran it for only about three years when they sold it to E. R. Burns, who ran 
it until 1867, when it passed into the hands of Hatch & Co.. they paying for it 
the sum of $16,000. They conducted it for five years when it again pas.sed into 
the hands of Mr. Burns who owned and operated it xmtil sometime in the latter 
•eighties. Since then it has changed hands several times, but the valuation for 
many years has not been one-fourth of what it originally was. For a great many 
years it did a big business grinding thousands and thousands of bu.shels of wheat 
each season, the flour being hauled across the countr3' to ]\Iarion by teams. As 
the raising of wheat played out so the value and popularity' of the mill depreciated 
luitil finally, as now, it was used only as a grist mill. The building is now owned 
by parties in the east and is being run by T. J. Liddington who runs it and any 
day may be found there taking care of any demands made upon him. He works 
alone, surroimded by a vast amount of empty space that was once filled with piles 
of grain, machinery, and the several men required to look after the big business.* 

LAND ASSESSMENTS 

Statement showing total acreage, valuation and average equalized in-tual value 
per acre of land in Linn county for 1909 and 1910. 

Township Acreage Valuation Average 

Bertram 15,816 $ 705.880 $44.63 

Brown 22,689 1,226,160 54.04 

Boidder 22,275 1,149,447 51,60 

Buffalo 14,985 568,850 37.96 

Cedar 13.268 1,002,296 75.54 

Clinton 20,689 1,256,772 60.74 

College 22,361 1,350,511 60.39 

Fairfax 22,852 1,451,070 63.50 

Fayette 15.463 770,599 49.83 

Franklin 20,621 1,222,768 57.92 

Grant 22,267 1,030,492 46.27 

Jackson 22,090 1,016,365 46.01 

Lmn 22,874 1,278,324 55.88 

Maine 29,537 1,345.650 45.55 

Marion 46,922 2,779.332 59.23 

* Chandlpr Jordan, mentioned above, died about a year ago, and Mr, T.iddington was 
killed in the mill in the winter of 1909-10 by getting wound up in the shafting, and since then 
the old mill has stood idle. 



ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY AXD IfEMIXISCENCE 489 

Monroe 22,025 1,044.440 47.4:; 

Otter Creek 22,42:< 1.206.721 f).! 82 

Putnam 17,467 786,950 45.05 

Spnng Grove 22,558 1.086.186 48.15 

Washington 18.026 797,423 44.23 

T'otals 437,208 $23,076,236 $52.78 

COMP.ARATIVE TABLE 

Shovs-ing actual and taxable valuation of Linn county. 1899-190!). 

Actual value Taxable valui- 

1909 $67,148,140.00 $16,787,O35.0t» 

1908 64.391.760.00 16,O97,940.0(» 

1907 63,806,912.00 15,951,728.00 

1906 59,215.180.00 14,803,795.00 

1905 57,547.092.00 14,386,773.00 

1904 59,404,00O.W 14.851,000.00 

1903 57,505.160.00 14,376.290.0<i 

1902 51.864,092.00 12,941,023.0(1 

1901 .'SO.oOl, 132.00 12,625.283.00 

1900 48,876,016.00 12,219,004.00 

1899 48,083,716.0(1 12,020.929.00 



The history of thi- .settleincnt.s in Linn county lia.s l)ei>n ii history of strupfile, of 
privation and of endurance. It was not an easy matter to have to go to .Musca- 
tine or Dubuque to mill and market; to travel by night on horseback some fiftj- 
miles for a doctor, and equally far to find a drug store. There were no roads 
pas.sable for a greater part of the year; the rivers were not bridged, and the 
streams oftentimes were swollen so that the only means of crossing was by swim- 
ming or by making .some temporary raft. The ])ioneer settler who wandered out 
over the prairie in a winter blizzard no doubt many times looked for the "smoke 
that so gracefully curls above the green elms" to indicate that a cabin wa-s near. 

The new settlers found Iowa a.s they had so often heard of it as "a wilderness 
of prairie land." It was well watered, and along the streams could be found 
enough timl)er to ert>ct fences and furnish fuel and rails. They generally hH-atetl 
in the edge of the timber and along the streams, and hesitated about Im-ating on 
the prairie till much later. There they fo\ind richer land than along the timber. 
These first settlers came from the far east and south, Ohio. Indiana. New York, 
Virginia, South Carolina, and the New England states. They came from .Mary- 
land, from Kentucky, and Tennes-see. .Some walked, like Kllis and Crow. Still 
others came in canvas covered wagons, in which the family were housed. They 
brought enough utensils to eocik their .s<-anty meals. The wagon was drawn by 
horses or oxen, followed by a few cows, an extra horse or two, and several dogs. 
At night they would camp by the side of some stream or near an oak tree. 

Not till the fifties and sixties did the foreigners arrive in any large numbers. 
.-\s soon as they had been here a short time they wrote home their first impres- 
sions, and from that time a steady stream of foreign immigration poured into 
Iowa. These early pioneers waited long for railroads, for steamboat.s. and for 
good roads. Their prodtiee was cheap and money wa.s scari-e, while interest was 
high. But they held on to their claims, ever looking for the brighter day. They 
possessed courage, hope, and the ability to wait and struggle till the times would 



490 HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 

change for the better. While many of the first settlers did not live to see their 
plans realized, later descendants sing their praises and embalm the memories of 
those who made the county, the cities, and the to\\Tis what they are today. 

Truly it can \ye said of the settlers of Linn county that they were a sturdy 
class of men and women, of whom their descendants may be justly proud. And 
the old pioneers who remain — when they reflect on the past and recall the days 
of old lang syne — cannot refrain from shedding affectionate tears for those who 
have gone hence. They call to mind the lines of the poet: 

' ' Two dreams came do^vn to earth one night 
From the realms of mist and dew. 
One was a dream of the old. old days. 
And one was a dream of the new." 

Pioneer days in Linn county were days of hardships, often of exposure, but 
their trials only served to develop the manhood and womanhood of the early 
«ettlers who never thought of returning, whose "only aim was to wait and see." 

(Jertainly Kipling's lines apply to conditions as they existed in Linn county 
in pioneer days: 

"To the far tlmig fenceless prairie 
Where the quick cloud shadows trail, 
To the barn in the neighbor 's offing, 
To the land of the new cut rail. 
To the plough in the league long furrow. 
To the gray lake gulls behind. 
To the weight of half a year's winter, 
To the warm, wet western wind." 



INDEX 



Abuh, Aurus'"': letter from, 53 

Abbe, William: mentioned, 10, 92, 102; 

government ajjent, 11; mentioned, 32, 33, 

34, 35, 44; first settler in the county, 51; 

member state senate, 52; Ellis speaks of, 

147 
Abl)e, Susan : probablv first teacher io 

Cedar Rapiils, 19,S. 481 
Acasslz, Louis: quotation from, 1 
Afrricultural Association: first in county, 

4 SO 
Albrook, Rev. J. B. : 209 
AlJernian, A. B. : gives information as to 

schools, 200 
American Fur Company: 14 
Atkins, John W. : superintendent of schools, 

41S 
Attorneys : those now practising in the coun- 
ty, 198 
Austin, Leonard: first settler in Spring 

Grove township, 2S9 
Avery, E. H. : president Coe college, 227 

Banks axd Banking : history of in the 

county, 435 ff 
Bardwcll, T. S. : early Marion physician, 

87, 467 
Barnes, William H.: Cornell professor, 204 
Barry, Justin: writes history of Grant 

township and Walker, 279 
Bassitt, James: comes to countr, in 1839, 

148 
Bates, E. N.: tribute to, 112; lawyer, 178 
Beales, Hiram : builds saw mill, 462 
Belt, A. Sidney: lawyer, 179 
Bench and Bar: chatty mention of, 177 (I 
Bennett, Henry: early settler at Quaaque- 

ton, 101 
Benton, Thomas H. : reference to, 19 
Berry. James M.: county judge, 56 
hiTTy, John C : clerk of commissioners, 33 
Bertram township: history of, 270 
Bishop, Homer: postmaster at Cedar Rapids, 

S4 
Blair building: 232 
Blair. John I.: 232 

Blair Town Ix>t and I^nd Company, 239 
Black Hawk: mentioned, 9. 12 
Black Hawk Purchase: mentioned, 14 
Black Hawk War: 14. 31 
Boggs, (lovomor: of Missouri, 15 
Bohemian Klemont in Cedar Rapids: 121 ff 
Buttorf. Andrew: lays out Center Point, 290 
Bowling. O. S. : came to Cedar Rapids in 

1S.38, 152 
Bowman. George B. : founder of Cornell 

college, 201 
Bowman. H. ('•.: brilliant lawyer, 186 
Boulder townshlji: history of, 278 



Boye, Nels C. : first Scandinavian settler, 
159 

Brice, S. M.: postmaster at Center Point, 
82 

Bridges: the Cedar Rapids, 420 

Brodio Gang: 38 

Broeksmit, John C. : treasurer Coe college, 
226 

Bromwell, James E. : writes historj- of Mar- 
ion, 4C0 

Bromwell, James E., Sr. : early settler, 46. 
257 ; makes first coffin in county, 466 

Brown, Alpbeus: school fund conimiesiouer, 
196 

Brown, N. B. : mentioned, 11; lays out 
toun site of Cedar Rapids, 43; buys por- 
tion of town, 49 ; a progressive citizen, 
150 

Brown, N. E.: speaks of railroad to Cedar 
Rapids, 64 

Brvan, B. S.: 267 

Bryan, Hugh L. : 267 

Bryan, Michael: 267 

Buff'alo township: history of, 279 

Burke, Thomas: 163 

Burkhalter, E. R.: writes history of Coe 
college. 215 ff 

Burlington : first capital of Iowa, 14 

Burrell, H. A.: quotation from, 103 

Butler, Isaac: first postmaster in Brown 
township, 84 

Calhoun, Senator: quoted, 18 

Calvin, Samuel : quote<l, 1 

Camburn, Dr. J. H.: an able justice, 189 

Carroll, G. R.: his Pioneer Life qnoted, 92. 
93. 21,'') 

Carroll, Isaac: came to Cedar Rapids in 
18.S9, 152 

Carpenter. Gabriel : buj^s much land in 
Cedar Rapids, 160 

Carpenter, 8. D.: early physician. 88; quot 
ed, 1.54; writes of early banking, 4.35 

Carondalet : S|janish Governor at New Or- 
leans, 13 

Catholicism in Linn county: 401 

Cavanaugh, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew: first 
gmd<iat<'S Cornell college, 210 

Colar Rapids: townsite surveyed, 43; fig 
ured in county seat fight, .")7 ; the post- 
office in, 84; early schools in. 19S ff; }»■ 
ginnings in, 207 ; R<itK>rt KIlis reaches, 
307; X. B. Bro«n here in 1S.19. .308; 
surveyed in 1S4I. 308; the Listebargers 
bnild log house in. 310; Rev. Cnrroirs rem 
iniarences of. 310; railrna<l reaches. 312; 
ferries established in. 313; first brick 
building in. 314; first store. 314: first news- 
paper, 314; first mayor, 314; first school. 



492 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



316; Dr. Carpenter's reminiscences of, 317 
ff ; early hotels in, 328 ; business of the city 
in 1856, 328; sketch of the city from an 
early directory, 332; sketch of Mrs. X. B. 
Brown, 333; Cedar Rapids today, 335; 
the railways of, 337; manufacturing in, 
339; the street railways of. 341; Com- 
mercial club, 345; who paid the taxes in, 
fifty years ago, 347; text of incorpora- 
tion act. 333; first city officials of, 356; 
second election in. 356; first tax levy in, 
357 ; election of 1851 in, 357 ; first side- 
walk ordinance. 357; election of 1853 in, 
358 ; the cemeteries of, 358 ; election of 
1854 in, 358; election of 1855 and 1856 
in, 359 ; officials of the city from 1857 to 
1910, 359; the city fifty years ago, 365; 
how the first railroad came to, 370; some 
of the early brick houses in, 374; some 
strenuous days in, 376; Mrs. Rock's rem 
iniscences of, 379 ; when land was cheap 
in, 382 ; first decoration day celebration 
in, 384; first labor union organized in, 
.■!90; story of a mountain howitzer, 391; 
a fortunate tumble, 392 ; interesting bit 
of ancient history, 393 ; churches and 
fraternities in, 395 ; history of Catholic 
churches in, 402 ; bridges, 420 ; some 
municipal figures, 482 

Cedar Kapids Clearing House Association : 
442 

Cedar Rapids & Marion City Railway Com- 
pany : 344 

Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad: 
233 

Cedar River: early steamboating on, 423 

Central City: 284; old mill at, 486 

C-enter Point: 290 

Cemeteries: some of the old. 242 

Child, J. J.: lawyer, 172, 182 

Clark, Joseph : arrives at Central Citv in 
1839, 148 

Clay, Senator: quoted, 18 

Clinton township: history of, 278 

Coo, Daniel: founder of Coe college, 217 

Coe college: history of, 215 ff 

Colby, Famum: early settler, 153 

College township: history of, 287 

Columbus (now Cedar Rapids) : 43. 48 

Commercial Club: of Cedar Rapids. 345 

Company C, Cedar Rapids: brief account 
of, 477 

Condit, R. A.: principal Coe Collegiate In- 
stitute, 223 

Conkey, John P. : first member of legisla- 
ture from Ce<Iar Rapids, 158 

Conklin, C. H.: .judge. 173 

Conwav, William B. : territorial secretary, 
14 

Cook, Isaac: nominated for secretary of 
state. 158; mentioned, 170; lawyer of 
ability, 177 

Cooke, Harriette J.: dean of women at 
Cornell, 204 

Corbett, Thomas: 176 

Cornell college: historical sketch of, 201 ff 

Cousins. Robert G. : quoted, 20 ff ; elected 
to congress. 305 

Craig, .Tolm : 162 



Crane, Joseph: early settler at Bertram. 

1.59 
Crocker. L. D.: 234 
Crow, Edward M. : 45, 48 ; came to county. 

56; mentioned. 92, 161 
Crow, John: one of first permanent settlers, 

48, 161 

Dale, Mrs. Ruth A.: interview with, 481 
Daniels, Addison: has first store in Marion, 

461 
Daniels, John J.: quotation from. 5.". 270; 

early teacher, 148 
Daniels, L. : postmaster at Marion. 82 : at 

Cedar Rapids. 84 
Daniels, Samuel: earh' settler, 462 
Davenport : 44 
Davenport, J. G. : postmaster at Cedar 

Rapids. 84. 108 
David. John: 176 

Davis. William: earlv settler in Grant town- 
ship. 280 
Dawson, James: 45 
Deacon. Charles J. : quoted, 220 
Deem, Hiram: early settler, 153 
Democratic partv: organization of in coun 

ty. 260 
Deveudorf, Thomas: article on taxes in 
Cedar Rapids by, 347 ; article on first 
railroarl to Cedar Rapids b)', 370 
Dinwiddie, .7. M. : treasurer Coe college, 226 
Dodge, A. C. : mentioned, 31; senator, 82 
Dodge, Henry: mentioned, 31, 82 
Donnan, Helen R. : writes of Masonic Li- 
brary. 248 
Doty, Elias: helps on court house, 34 
Doty, Elias: a constant litigant, 188 
Doty, James: helps erect court house. 34, 35 
Doty, James M.: plats Xewark, 143; first 

pottery maker in Iowa, 146 
Doty, Susan : kind to the Indians, 1 1 
Downing, Thomas: early settler, 152 
Dows, S. L.: 263 

Dows, W. G. : his military record. 477. 478 
Dubuque, city: mentioned. 13. 20, 44 
Dubuque, Julian : obtains grant of land, 13 
Dudley. J. W.: 172 

Durham, S. W.: letter to from Col. Mer- 
ritt, .58 ; as to postoffices. 82 ; letter by, 
143; address by, 164 ff; honored pioneer, 
464 

Eastman, A. V.: secretary Coe College, 
225 

Edgerton, Asher: gets contract for Court 
House, 34. 35 

Ellis, Robert: knew the Indians, 10; agent 
for the government, 11; walked to Iowa, 
45; meets Bill .lohnson, 101; oldest liv- 
ing settler in county. 146 

Elkhorn Land & Town Lot Company: 240 

Ely. Alex. L.: 47, 50 

Ely, John F. : early physician, 88; men- 
tioned. 233 

Endicott. W. I.: quoted. 335 

Engle, Peter H. : letter written by. 19; re- 
ferred to, 31 

Enos, J. L. : newspaper articles by quoted, 
84. 86 



INDEX 



4!»:5 



Kvans, George A.: oa|itHiii ( '<iiii|'aiiy ('. 477 
EwinK. Senator: qiioteil, IS 

Kajsbanks. Ira fi.: sii[>orintCDili'iii nl 

Hchools, 196 
Kairfax: Catholic rliurcii at. 407 
Fairfax township: hintorv of, '.'71 
Fellows. Rev. S. N.: 202 nolr 
FerKii»>n, Henry V.: 2.1.3 
Per^iiwin. Jason P.: killed in Civil \V:ir. 

474 
Fifth Iowa Battery: 478 
Fifty third rpRiment : 477 
Fisher, A. \V. : writes history of Spring 

(irove totvnship, 28S 
Fiske, John : qvioted, S 
Florida: admission of, 1.5 
Flynn, Rev. P. J.: rontriliutes article on 

history of Catholocism in county, 401 
Fordyco. Emma J.: writes of enrlv schools. 

198 ff 
Port Atkinson: 10, 11, 12 
Fort Ueorge school house: 14:{ 
Fortner, Catharine A.: cirlv Cornell to:iili 

er, 204 
Foster. Sidney A.: 17 i:ut( 
Freer. H. H.: professor Cornell eolleite, 20S 
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Vallev l{;iil 

road: 237 

(Gainer, Thus.: i-ninc to Cedar Rapids in 

1839. 1.52 
(."arrow, Peter: first citizen to lie natural 

ixed, 464 
(tcer, C. M. : quoted, 13 
Oeoloiry of Linn county: 24 IT 
Gillilao, James: 45 
Glass, J. P.: early settler. 46 
Good. James W. : eleoted to coiifrresa, .'{0.5 
• Jouiiy. .John, family of robbed, 38 ff 
Grant township: history of, 279 
Gray, George W : builds present court 

house, 3.5 
(irny. Hosea W. : 33, 3.5, 47. 48. 49; takes 

fimt census of countv. 95. 463: first sher 

iff. 463 
(irav. Miss Pethenia: enrlv school teacher. 

28-> 
Grafton. Dr. S. : earlv settler at Ivanhoe. 

159 
Greone. George: school teacher. 34; member 

legislative council, 4S; buys portion of 

("edar Rapids. 49; letter to' Col. Durham. 

61; lawyer. 178, 465 
(ireene, Joseph: first postmaster at Ce<lar 

Rapids. 84 
Grist mill: first in countv. 257 
Gunn. Thoma.s F. : 404 

Haoky, Jon mm : nrites of Cedar Rapids 

library. 250 
Hahn. Daniel S. : claimed to Iw first set 

tier. 55 
Hall, O. S. : a pioneer. t6l 
Hall, P. E.: 233 
Hall. Samuel : early settler. 276 
Haman, Geo. C. : tells of coming of rail 

road to Cedar Rapids. 64 



Hanian. Mrs. George C. : givi-s her recollec 

tions of society in the early days. 261 IT 
Hamilton, Johu T. : elected to congresa, 305 
Harlan, Jaihes: senator. 82; state su|ierin- 

tendent. 201 
Harlan, James E.: president Cornell college, 

208 
Harland, Ambrose, early settler. 143; early 

politician, 300 
Harman, Peter D. : did brick work on prea 

ent court house, 3.5 
Har|>er, Bill: a noted character, iHl 
Hart, Caspar J. : 159 
Hart, J A.: 1.59, 209 
Hartigan. Father: in charge of the Cath 

olic church at .Marion. 410 
Haakins. C. C. ; 92; early settler at Mt. 

Vernon, 159 
Har.eltine, E. D. : early settler in Grant 

township, 280 
Headley, J. T. : earlv practitioner, 164 
Heins, B. F. : la»7er, 183 
Henrj'. .John: operates store at Westporl. 

42, 92 
llcrshev. Christian: pioneer minister, 292 
Hi>,'lev[ Har%ev G.: 1.58 
HiKlev, Henrv E.: 1.58 
Higlev, .M. a'.: 1.58 
Higley. \V. W.: 158 
HofTman. John: postmaster at S|>ring\'ille. 

84 
HoUis, C M. : editor of Time». quotation 

from. Ill, 112 
Hook. Samuel F. : early settler, 152 
Hoosier Grove Settlement: 46 
Hormel. FVank: able lawyer. 183 
Hotchkin. James K : first postniasier of 

Walker, 280 
Howlett, G. M. : postmaster at Cedar Rapids. 

85 
Hubbard, N. M. : eminent attorney, 179; 

anecdotes of, 180; Decoration Day ad- 
dress of, 387 ; mentioned, 407 
Hubbard .Smyth : political contest. .102 ff 
Hull, Philip: 44, 147 
Hunter, James: helps build court house, M, 

35 
Hunter, John: helps build court house, 31 
Humphrey. .Joseph: early settler, 276 

iLLl.voiS: admitted. 31 

Indians: account of, 8 

Indian nomenclature: 22 

Ingham, W. H.: 163 

Isbell, N. W. : first countv .jud;;e. 11;;'. IT".. 

468 
I\anhoe: 43 

I%e8, C. J.: pioneer railroa<l developer. 161 
Iowa: a prairie state, 1; first inhabitants. 

3; bistort- of, 13 
Iowa City: constitutional convention at, 1-5 
Iowa Conference Seminary : founding of, 

202 
Iowa Falls 4 Sioux City Railnwd: 236 
Iowa Rail Road Ijind Company: 2.''.9 
Iowa State Gazetteer: quoted, 47 
lowas: mentioned, 9, 1.3 

JjicKSOX township: history of, 285 



494 



HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY 



Jenkins, John: first settler in Maine town- 
ship, 282 

Johnson, Alexander: early settler, 276 

Johnson, Bill: hero of Canadian rebellion, 
101 ff 

Johnson, Kate: 101 

Johnson, S. S. : early carpenter and builder, 
154 

Joliet, Louis: discovers loTva, 4 

Jones, Geo. W. : mentioned, 31; senator 
from Iowa, 82 

Jones, Stephen M.: 109 

Jordan, Chandler: early settler in Maine 
township, 282 

Jordan, Charles: early settler, 163 

Jordan, L. D. : early settler in Maine town- 
ship, 282 

Justices: early Linn County, 199 ff 

Keelek, C. B : lawyer, 186 

Keeler, Rev. E. W. : early president Cor- 
nell college, 204 

Kelsey, J. H. : early settler, 152 

Kephart, Cyrus J. : his history of the Unit- 
ed Brethern at Lisbon quoted, 291 

Kimball Building, 233 

Kimbal, L. C: 233 

King, David W. : came to Cedar Rapids in 
1839, 152, 161 

King, William Fletcher: president of Cor- 
nell college. 208 

Kirkwood, Governor: dispatch from, 471; 
calls for additional troops, 475 

Kynett, A. J. : helps found Cornell college, 
201, 208 

Knott, Richard: commissioner to locate 
county seat, 32, 33 

Knox, Rev. James, 224 

Kurtz, John E.: one of the founders of 
Lisbon, 161 

Labor: first union organized in Cedar 
Rapids, 390 

Lake, E. W. : early Marion physician, 87 

Langworthy, L. H. : quotation from, 104 

Ijawyers: early, 169 

Lazell, F. J.: author of article on news- 
papers of county, 106 

Laylander, O. J.: quoted, 17 

Lea, Albert Miller: quoted, 19 

Lee, Guy Carleton: his History of North 
America referred to, 13 

Leffingwell, William E. : candidate for 
Congress, 179 

Legare. Margaret S. : 267 

Leverich, James: arrives in 1839, 148 

Loverioh, Joel : becomes owner of Mound 
Farm, 46; arrives in 1839, 148; Dr. Car- 
penter on, 148; Geo. R. Carroll on, 149; 
early politician, 301 

Libraries: Masonic, 248; Cedar Rapids. 
250; Coe college, 250; Mt. Vernon, 251; 
Marion, 251 ; Bohemian Reading Society, 
251 

Lichtebarger. Jos. H.: early settler, 148 

Linn County: act organizing, 32; first sur- 
vey, 34 ; first court house in, 34 ; names 
of townships in, 35; judiciary in, 35; 
circuit court in, 36; noted trials in, 36; 
outlawry in. 37 ; early settlement of, 42 : 



first marriage in, 46; organized, 47; first 
election in, 48; first settler in, 51; county 
seat contests in, 57; first railroad in, 58; 
old settlers of, 66 ff, 145 ff; post offices 
and politics in. 82 ff; physicians of, 86 ff; 
material growth of, 92 ff; first reaper in, 
93; newspapers of, 106; early Bohemian 
settlements in, 121 ff; early marriages in, 
127 ff; historic roads and monuments in, 
142; early lawyers and courts in, 169 ff; 
chatty mention of bench and bar, 175 ff; 
early justices in, 189 ff; schools in, 194 
ff; old cemeteries in, 242; libraries in, 
248 ; wages and prices in, from 1846 to 
1856, 253; some first things in, 256; first 
grist mill in, 257; early land entries iu, 
258 ; organization of democratic party in, 
260 ; early society in, 261 ; history of 
townships, 270; politics in, 298; statistics 
for 1856, 332; Catholicism in, 401; poj.- 
ulation of, 416; early votes in, 417; 
members of legislature from, 417; banks 
and banking in, 435 ff; list of county of- 
ficers, 451 ff; in war, 470; vote in, in 1860, 
479; tornado in, 479; account of West- 
ern, 479; of Mt. Vernon, 479; first agri- 
cultural association in, 480; first teachers 
association in, 480; teachers' institute. 
481; vote in, in 1910, 482; early days in, 
483 ; early doctors in, 485 ; land assess- 
ments in. 488; taxable valuation in, 489 

Linn County Medical Society: 89 

Linn, Dr. Louis F. : mentioned, 32; Linn 
county named after, 47 

Linn township: history of, 286 

Lisbon: 291; camp-meetings at, 296; Cath- 
olic church at. 411 

Loughnane, Rev. P. it.: Catholic priest at 
Marion, 411 

Louisiana Purchase, The: 13 

Love, J, S. : early Springville physician, 89 

Lowry, Father: 403 

Lucas, Robert: territorial governor, 14, 15 

Lucore, R H. : early settler, 148 

Lund, Mrs. E. J. : early Cedar Rapids teach- 
er, 199 

Lynch, Jerry: a resourceful lawyer. 182; 
anecdotes of, 183 

Lytle, James: early settler in Jackson town- 
ship, 285 

McC.\BE. Bishop C. C: 163 

McClelland. Freeman: 88 

McCloud, Ross: county surveyor. 34 

McConnell, N. A.: early minister, 289 

McCormick, Samuel B. : president Coe col- 
lege, 228 

McDye, William E. : colonel, 475 

Mcintosh, D. M. : lawyer, 177; erects early 
brick house in Cedar Rapids. 267 

McKoan, A. J.: appointed constable, 33; 
clerk of circuit court, 36; early politician, 
158; first constable and first assessor. 
464 

McKean, Thomas .!.: first mayor of ilarion, 
466; sketch of, 470 

McKinnev, Ed: early settler in Maine town- 
ship. 282 

McKinnon. William: carlv setth'r, 277 



INDEX 



495 



McBoberts, Peter: chosen cuniniissioncr, 33 

Mi'Vay, Luthor: pioneer minister, 293 

.\fjinpirt, Rev. C. W. : bis sketch of the 
Cedar Rajuds churches. 397 

Maine township: history of, 'JSI 

Mann, Jacob: one of first settlers, i'l, 48, 
IGO 

Mann, Sally: probably first white woman to 
settle in county, 160 

Mansfield, K. L. : 88; came to Iowa on 
horseback, 1()2 

Maple River Railroad: 238 

Marion: named county seat, 33, 5"; V. 8. 
land office, 34 ; district court of U. 8. 
and territorial court meets at. 35; rail- 
road meeting at, 62; Catholic Church 
at, 409; history of, 460 ff; first house in, 
461; first store, 461; first hotel, 461; first 
,)ail built in, 461; plat of town recorded, 
363; first court held in, 465; fire depart- 
ment organized, 466 

Marquette, Jacques: quoted, 4 

Marriages: early ones in county, 127 ff 

Marshall James: president Coo college, 227 

Mason, Albert A. : superintendent of schols, 
196 

Matscll, G. W.: early settler, 163 

May, J. M.: files plat of Mayfield, 143; a 
stirring man, 157; lawyer, 178 

Mayfield: now portion of Cedar Rapids, 143 

Maynard, H. H. : field secretary Coe college, 
228 

Mekota, Jos.: contributes article, 121 ff 

Melton, George: and Center Point ]>o8tof- 
fiee. 82 

Mercy Hospital, 413 

Merritt, W. II.: storekeeper at Ivanhoe. 11, 
l.'j3; writes political letter, 59 

Mexican veterans: in county, 470 

Miller, Wm. E.: judge, 173' 

Mills, .1. G. : his Handbook mentioned. 14 i 

.Mill.s, Ma.ion P.: lawyer. 183 

Minnesota: admitted. 31 

Missouri: admitted, 31 

Missouri Valley & Blair Railway and Bridge 
Company: 238 

Missouri Valley Land Company: 240 

Mitchell, Israel: lays out Wes'tport, 33, 146 

Mitchell, James: early settler, 275 

Mitchell, John: lawj-er, 177 

Mitchell, .Tohn: early settler, 275 

Moingona Coal Company: 240 

Montrose: 20 

Mound Buililers: mentioned, 3; account of, 4 

Mt. Vernon: account of, 479 

Mulford, Charles R. : early merchant, 153 

Murray, F. G.: contributes chapter on jihy- 
sicians, 86 

Muscatine: 44 

Muskwaki: mentioned. 10 

New ARK: extinct town, 14.': 

Newberry, ,T. S. : quoted, 7 

N'ewhall, J. B. : quoted, 47 

.Vew Lindon: defunct town, 84. 143 

New»pa[)or»: history of. 106 ff 

Neutral Grounds: 14 

Norton, William Hannon: contribution on 



geologj" of liinu county, 24 ff; writes of 
Cornell college, 2ul ff 
Nye, Benjamin: conuuissioner to loeatt 
county seat, 32, 33 

Old Settlers' Association: members of, 06 ff 

Otocs: mentioned, 9 

Otter Creek: settlement of, 46 

Otter Creek township: history of, 286 

Owen, Dr. Nonnan \V. : 467 

Oxley, Marshall: 257 

Oxlcy, Perry: early politician, 300 

Parker, N. H. : quoted, 17, 144 

Pan in, T. S. : 162 

Patterson, William: does carpenter work on 
present court house. 35 

l'hel|is. Stephen : prt-sident Coe college, 226 

Physicians: of the county, 86 ff 

Plummer. John : first justice in Spring Grove 
township. 289 

Politics: county and district, 298 

Pollock, S. L.: early settler, 153 

Population: of county and towns. 416 

Post offices: earlv politics concerning, 82 

Powell, .1. J.: hi'wyer, 183 

Powell, Major J. W. : quoted, 7 

Practitioners' Club: 89 

Prairie du Chien: 20 

Prairieburg: Catholic church at, 407 

Preston, I. M.: 171, 468 

Public Instruction: superintendent of cre- 
ated, 195 

U.AiLROAt): first in county, 58; letter from 
Merritt on, 59; Iowa Central Air Line, 
63; Dubuque and Southwestern, 63; let- 
ter from C. II. Branch on, 64 

Reiner, W. Fred : his experience as express 
messenger, 244 ff 

Richardson, Rev. T. F.: 406 

Risley, A. P. : postmaster at Springville, 84 

Ristine, Henrv M. : early countT phvsician, 
86. 89, 467' 

Roads: early ones laid out, 142 

Roberts, Robert G.: chosen legishitor, 33 

Rock, Mrs. R. C. : early teacher, 198; men- 
tioned, 261; reminiscences of, 379 

Rockingham: 44 

Rogers, Wm. : earlv settler at Rogers tJrove, 
163 

Rood, H. H.: quoted, 210 

Rothrock, .James II.: judge, 173, ISl ; anec- 
dotes of, 181, 182 

Runkle, Jesse A.: quoted, 196 

Sac and Fox. The: 10, 13 

Sacred Heart Academv: 414 

Safely, Robt.: 163 

Sampson, A. K. : lays out town of New Liu 

don, 84 
Sanford. Julius K. : one of platters of C*- 

dar Rapids, 162. 176 
Schools: early history of, 194 ff 
.Scott, General Winfield: concludes treaty 

with Sacs and Foxf-», 1 1 
Seerley, H. H.: 209 
Shambaugh, B. F. : quote<l, 10 
Shnne, John: judge, 174 



4;!(i 



HTSTORY OF LIXX COUNTY 



Shaw, L. M. : quoted. 213 

Shepherd, Osgood: 46, 49, 149 

Sherman, E. A.: quoted, 341 

Shields, Mrs. Susan: daughter of William 
Abbe, 10, 51 

Sigworth, Dr. H. W. : address on early doc- 
tors in county, 485 

Sinclair, Thomas M. : helps Coe college, 225 

Sisley Gro%'e: 279 

Sisters of Mercy: 412 

Sioux City & Iowa Falls Town Lot and 
Land Company : 239 

Sioux City & Pacific Railroad: 235 

Sioux Indians: mentioned, 10 

Skinner, Rev. Elias: candidate for county 
judge, 57 ; letter from. 164 

Smith, E. W. : Cornell professor, 204 

Smith, Judge Jlilo P.: contributor, IGO; 
early teacher, 194 

Smith, W. H.: appointed constable, 33 

Smith, William Wjlberforce: president Coe 
college, 229 

Smyth, Robert : an enterprising man, 161 

Smyth, William: first county attorney, 170, 
179, 468 

Snouffer, J J. : S4, 269 

Snyder, Justice: 189 

Society in the early days: 261 

Southern influence: 267 

Soutter, C. B. : president board of trustees 
Coe college, 228 

Speake, John K. : early settlor iu Grant 
township, 280 

Spring Grove township: history of, 288 

Stearaboating: on the Cedar, 420 

Stephens. R. D. : builds elevator at Marion, 
97; mentioned, 171; financier. 177; trib- 
ute to, 467 

Stewart, J. O. : quoted, 109; commissioned 
captain iu Civil War, 475 

Stewart, Samuel C. : chosen commissioner, 83 

Stewart. William: early blacksmith. 154 

Stoddard, Jos. C. : in Civil war. 473 

Stone, William: had store at Westport, 42. 
46, 49; probable first settler in Cedar 
Rapids, 151 

Stookey, S. W. : acting |iresident Coe col- 
lege, 228 

Strong, L. M. : chosen commissioner, 33 ; 
builds first house in Marion, 461 

Sullivan, John C. : surveys southern Iowa 
boundary'. 15 

Taylor, A. C. : 85 

Taylor, Dr Robert : 269 

Teachers' Association: first in county, 480 

Teachers' institute: first in county. 481 

Tecumseh : 9 

Thomas. Dr. Cyrus: 7 

Thompson, Henry: erects saw mill. 460 



Thoni[ison. William G.: lawyer, 172, 186; 

anecdotes of, 187, tribute to, 468 
TransMississippi Exposition: 20 
Troup, Reverend C. : first minister in county, 

4S. 291 
Troy Mills: founded, 290 
Tryon, S. H.: 86 

Union Medical Society, 89 

Tnited Brethren Church: beginning of in 

lona. 291 ; at Lisbon, 292 ff 
United Presbyterian Church: origin of the 

Fairfax, 272 
Ure, James: early settler, 275 
Ure, Robert: early settler, 272 
Ure, William : brings first reaper to county, 

93 
L'sher, Dyer: first divorce action in county 

brought by, 36; ferries people across the 

Mississippi, 46 

Vardy, John: erects first frame dwelling iu 
Cedar Rapids, 49; arrives in Cedar Rap- 
ids in 1841, 152 

Vinton. Samuel F. : attitude toward Iowa, 16 

Walker: history of, 279; Catholic church 

at, 409 
Washington township: history of, 290 
Waubeek: 284 

Weare, Charles: early contractor. 154 
Weare, John : early banker, 154 
Webster, C. L. : quoted, 8 
Weld, L. G. : 3 note; 13 note 
Western: stage line to. 47; accr.unt of, 479 
Westport: 33, 43, 46, 48, 143 
Wetherbee, E S. : gives account of old mill 

at Central City, 486 
Wheeler, David H : Coruell professor, 204 
Whittam, I. N.: pioneer lawyer, 178 
Whittlesey, Charles: chosen senator, 33 
Wick, B. L. : writes on early steamboating, 

423 
Williams. Joseph D.: .Judge, 35, 41 
Williams, Horace: 239 
Willis, James W. : first county commissioners 

meet at house of, 33 
Wilson, George W.: noted attorney, 187 
Wilson. Gen. James: 103 
Wilson, Judge James: surveyor-general, 31 
Wilson, T. S.: 82 
Winnebagoes, The: account of, 9 
Wisconsin: admitted, 31 
Witter, Amos: early physician in Mount 

Vernon, 87 
Woodbridge. Ward : w rites history of Maine 

township, 281 

Young, Josejih B. : lawyer, 177, 468 
ZuMBRO, John : postmaster at Marion, 82 




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